February 11, 2021

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Administrators,

I write today to share my decision to retire at the close of the 2021-22 academic year. Jesuits make decisions through reflection and discernment, and in recent years I have been discerning the right moment to retire. In such a fast-paced world, as the challenges facing higher education—and Loyola, specifically—have been evolving, I have considered how to plan for the transition from my tenure to another president. The time has never felt right.

When the pandemic arrived in the United States a year ago, I set that discernment aside. Loyola needed stability and knowledge of our university and its needs. I stayed, and the past year—even with all the anxiety of this time—has been a fruitful one for our university. Seeing how our students, faculty, staff, and administrators supported and accompanied one another on that journey spoke to the heart of our mission: to learn and apply our Jesuit, liberal arts education to be persons for and with others.

As we have welcomed students for in-person education and experiences this semester and reopened our campuses, and as we look toward the future of Loyola, I feel that the time is now right to help the University prepare for this transition.

The Board of Trustees has accepted my request to retire on June 30, 2022, and James Forbes, chair of the Board of Trustees, will be in touch on the heels of this announcement with more information for our Loyola community. Strategic decisions are needed for the next chapter of Loyola’s history, and the next president should guide that process to lead Loyola forward into the future.

Serving as president of Loyola has been one of the greatest joys of my life. This community and this university are dear to my heart, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved in advancing the education and experience we offer students, all while deepening our commitment to our Jesuit mission. The Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to designate me as President Emeritus upon my retirement, and I will be honored to accept that title.

When I was preparing to become president what feels like many years ago now, I was given a piece of advice: Walk through the student center every day you are on campus. I have done that, with great joy, greeting students, seeing the people they are becoming, and enjoying being part of the wonderful energy and excitement they bring to our campus.

As I continue as president through the rest of this academic year and the next one, I look forward to many opportunities to see our students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and friends. You make this such an extraordinary university.

God bless you, God bless Loyola University Maryland, and please know the Loyola community is in my prayers every day.

Sincerely,

Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J.
President