As of July 2024, former university president Fr. Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J. has returned to Seattle University as chancellor, to the mixed reaction of faculty and former students. Chancellor is a role reserved for former presidents at Jesuit universities.
While Seattle U has had two chancellors before, Fr. Albert A. Lemieux, S.J. in the late 70s and Fr. William J. Sullivan, S.J. in the late 90s, it seemed unclear what exactly Sundborg would be doing in his role as chancellor. Now that Sundborg has been in the role for six months, President Eduardo Peñalver was able to shed some light on some of the duties Sundborg has been performing.
“[Sundborg] is available to work with senior leaders and trustees as a spiritual advisor,” Peñalver wrote to The Spectator. “[Sundborg]’s role also calls for him to provide sacramental service to the university and our alumni. [D]rawing on relationships formed during his 24 years as president of Seattle University, he helps maintain our connection with key supporters of Seattle University.”
Sundborg wrote to The Spectator that his work happens under the direction of the president. He stated that although he does not directly work with students, his work with alumni and university leadership is intended to benefit the university at large.
“Because of my long association with SU and having witnessed its development, I take great pride in the university and its mission which they are experiencing in their education,” Sundborg wrote. “As chancellor, I have the privilege of knowing so many people who believe in this university and support it because of their confidence in its students and its alumni. I wish the students could know how many people stand behind them in this way.”
This analysis of his role contradicts certain original expectations of the role. The Spectator reported in April of last year, following an in-depth interview with Sundborg, that being chancellor would mean that he would be a common figure around campus.
“Once he returns, students can expect to see him around campus at events and celebrations, Mass of the Holy Spirit and sporting events,” The Spectator article previously reported.
As Sundborg’s role is guided by the president, the two frequently meet to collaborate. Both described how this is helpful, as there are very few people who understand what being the president of a university is like. Sundborg has experience in this partnership both as president and chancellor.
“I appreciated the help of Fr. Sullivan in my first decade as president because of his experience from his twenty years as president,” Sundborg wrote. “I meet regularly with President Peñalver to go over my work for the university, to find out what he might like me to focus on, and at times to update him on some historical background about current matters.”
One of the members of senior leadership at Seattle U that Sundborg frequently collaborates with is Vice President for Mission Integration Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos. Before starting in her current role in 2022, Punsalan-Manlimos worked at Seattle U from 2004 to 2019 as faculty in the department of theology and religious studies, and as the director for the Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture. Sundborg served as president during that time. While Punsalan-Manlimos was initially nervous about her current partnership with Sundborg, she shared that she has grown to enjoy working with him.
“Actually it’s really nice to have him as a conversation partner. The levels of the conversations I can have with him both as someone with administrative experiences and someone I can speak with on the spiritual level, that’s been a real gift,” Punsalan-Manlimos said.
One of the tasks that Sundborg has been assisting the Department of Mission Integration with is a process called discernment in common. Punsalan-Manlimos described this as a spiritual way of making decisions as a community. Her department has decided to have this year be a year of discernment in how their organization is structured and in how their work is serving the greater university community. According to Punsalan-Manlimos, Sundborg has been a vital partner in their task of communal discernment.
“To have someone like him who’s really focused on this work as someone who can facilitate that for us we thought was a wonderful opportunity, both for him to guide us in the process and for us to learn from him,” Punsalan-Manlimos said.
Sundborg is glad to be back in Seattle, the place he considers home. His collaborators are also excited to have his knowledge and experience at their disposal.
“I do feel a deep sense of gratitude. I think we’re very fortunate to have him back. He’s really been very generous with his time and his availability for folks,” Punsalan-Manlimos said.
While Sundborg doesn’t directly work with students in his role, Sundborg’s connections with alumni and university leadership will hopefully lead to a better Seattle U for all.
