Message From the Dean

Article Image - Message From the Dean Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D.

Dear Friends:

Recently, at the inauguration of our 27th President of The University of Scranton, Scott Pilarz, S.J., I was reminded again of the beauty of poetry and imagery.  Poetry needs to speak to one’s soul, perhaps which is why I enjoy the poems of Mary Oliver so much.

At our September all-college dean’s conference, I read Marge Piercy’s poem, “To Be of Use.”  The faculty, staff and students and our alumni and friends reminded me of this poem.  They are people who submerge themselves in work and use.

This issue of Challenges and Theory will provide evidence of the engaged, integrated and global attributes of people who are selfless in service yet appreciate the simple things in life by giving back to others.

I love the people of PCPS, and I am humbled by their knowledge and skills to transform lives.

Journey with me through these pages and realize why I feel the deepest gratitude for all of you.

Fondly,

Debra A. Pellegrino, Ed.D.

Academic Dean of PCPS

“To Be of Use”

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.

  • By Marge Piercy
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