BY CORBIN MCGUIRE, OPINIONS EDITOR
Dr. Doris Tegart was appointed to the position of interim president, by the Bellarmine Board of Trustees, following the passing of former president Dr. Joseph McGowan on March 1, 2016.
In April 2016, Tegart began her interim presidency with one fear, time.
“I have this job until 2017, and I am trying to do so much. I am afraid I will not have time to do what I want to do,” Tegart said. “There are so many projects I want to do. I just hope I have time to do it.”
Among these projects were small changes like converting a room in the library into a faculty lounge to give professors and administrators a place to congregate as well as much more long-term feats such as making Bellarmine a more inclusive campus for all students.
Although Tegart’s biggest fear was that she would not have the time necessary to accomplish everything, she said her primary goals involved not what she could do, but what she could learn about the needs of Bellarmine students.
“I look forward to listening this year, more than saying: ‘We’re going to do this, we’re going to do that.’ I really want to hear what students have to say about what’s going on,” Tegart said.
Tegart began her role as interim president with excitement for the unique opportunity to get to know Bellarmine students on a more personal level and see what students devoted their time to on campus.
“For a long time at Bellarmine, I haven’t had a relationship with students because that has just not been my role. That has already been the most rewarding thing for me. To get to every student event that I can possibly go to, so I’m excited about that,” Tegart said.
In the first months of her interim presidency, Tegart attended, among many other events, the remaining student art shows, the senior banquet for the School of Communication, and the 2016 graduation, where she honored McGowan’s legacy by introducing the McGowan Award. This is a new tradition in which graduates are given a small medal to present to someone who helped mentor them during their time at Bellarmine.
Tegart also answered the call of many Bellarmine students to keep the university affordable and accessible even in a period of great growth.
During her interim presidency, Tegart announced that for the 2017-2018 academic year, the University Board of Trustees approved a tuition increase of 2.5 percent, representing the lowest tuition increase at Bellarmine in more than 25 years.
A less popular decision made by the board of trustees during Tegart’s year as president was the decision for Bellarmine to not become a sanctuary campus, despite support from faculty and students in the form of an online petition.
“People of color are always fighting for our place in America, despite the fact it would not exist without us. I think the root of a lot of America’s problems are entitlement. Entitlement to people’s land, culture, and ultimately the decisions around their lives,” said Jonna Hogan at the time of the decision. “Putting people in camps, and separating them from their families is inhumane. As a Catholic University I expect Bellarmine to understand that. Saying financial aid will be compromised is an excuse to be complacent.”
Students were invited to participate in a campus discussion with higher education expert and former Lexington mayor Jim Newberry. Newberry was available to answer the legal questions of students.
In addition to this, Tegart is also the first Bellarmine president to have a Facebook page available to students, faculty and staff. While the page is usually used to share pictures and exciting news from Bellarmine’s official Facebook page, it became a useful tool for students to directly engage in discussion following the Board’s decision about the sanctuary campus.
The decision was closely followed by Bellarmine’s first Student Success Conference, a two-day conference that included slam poetry performances, small presentations on topics ranging from gender identity to mental health, and a student panel on inclusion on campus.
Not all students agreed with every action taken under Tegart’s time as acting president, though she demonstrated her ability to listen to their concerns, accept criticism and offer additional opportunities to get involved throughout her year as interim president.
On Feb. 21, Bellarmine announced that, after a unanimous decision made by the Presidential Search Committee and the Bellarmine University Board of Trustees, Dr. Susan M. Donovan from Loyola University Maryland will serve as Bellarmine University’s fourth president.
Students shared their excitement that a woman was chosen for the position but also expressed their admiration for Tegart.
“I would have loved for Dr. Tegart to be president. I think she maintained the feeling of community on campus when it could have been lost entirely,” senior Leslie Rowen said. “I’m excited for their choice, not only because she will be our first female president, but because she has an impressive track record and could really make some positive changes on campus.”
Donovan addressed students, faculty and staff Feb. 22 in Frazier Hall.
“It was a pleasure to meet Bellarmine’s new president today. Her dedication to a school she has not yet even come to love is inspiring, and I am looking forward to watching my soon-to-be alma mater grow under her leadership,” senior Jessica Winters said. “She has big shoes to fill as Dr. McGowen’s successor, but her experiences and values assure me she will be a wonderful leader for the school I love so much.”