2008 Woodie Awards
Father Moore retires after dedicated service as Dean of Arts and Sciences
Gina Tomaine '10
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Features
For the past 30 years, students have been lining up in the small alcove outside of the Dean's office in Barbelin in order to speak to one man: James W. Moore, S.J. Now, after decades of service to Saint Joseph's University and the city of Philadelphia, Moore has decided to retire from his position of Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective June 30, 2008.
Prior to his 30-year reign as the good-hearted and intellectual advisor to an entire student body, he held the position of Director of Undergraduate Admissions for a 15-year span from 1963 to 1978. Moore has honored Hawk Hill with 45 consecutive years of dedicated work, distinguishing himself as the longest serving administrator in the 157-year history of Saint Joseph's University.
As a wise woman once said, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." Moore has spent his days here advising desperate seniors seeking final theology credits, timid freshman making that first major switch, (as well as sophomores and juniors making that second, or third, or fourth) and generally all students seeking purpose in their lives and learning about themselves as they proceed through their Jesuit education.
Dean of Students William Madges commented "His knowledge of university matters and the history of the institution is unsurpassed. His concern for students is unparalleled."
Despite the inherent feeling of insignificance of being one student in a pool of thousands, when students enter the office of Moore, advisor to all, they are treated with undivided attention and enthusiasm. "Father Moore was great to get to know as a freshman at St. Joe's. He was so welcoming, regardless of whether or not he knew your name he would sit down with you and act as if you were already friends," said Katelyn Thompson, '10.
Instead of the skimping over the details of the life of one student in a flutter of paperwork and busy distractions that might be expected of an upper-level advisor dealing with thousands of students, Moore takes the time to sit down with each individual student, eye to eye, and simply talk. His rigorous knowledge of the academic system at Saint Joseph's makes him an invaluable consultant to all who seek help as a student, and his personal compassion and embodiment of the Jesuit ideal of living a life with and for others makes him the worthiest example to all who seek understanding as that human person which we all learned about in Philosophy I.
Prior to his 30-year reign as the good-hearted and intellectual advisor to an entire student body, he held the position of Director of Undergraduate Admissions for a 15-year span from 1963 to 1978. Moore has honored Hawk Hill with 45 consecutive years of dedicated work, distinguishing himself as the longest serving administrator in the 157-year history of Saint Joseph's University.
As a wise woman once said, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." Moore has spent his days here advising desperate seniors seeking final theology credits, timid freshman making that first major switch, (as well as sophomores and juniors making that second, or third, or fourth) and generally all students seeking purpose in their lives and learning about themselves as they proceed through their Jesuit education.
Dean of Students William Madges commented "His knowledge of university matters and the history of the institution is unsurpassed. His concern for students is unparalleled."
Despite the inherent feeling of insignificance of being one student in a pool of thousands, when students enter the office of Moore, advisor to all, they are treated with undivided attention and enthusiasm. "Father Moore was great to get to know as a freshman at St. Joe's. He was so welcoming, regardless of whether or not he knew your name he would sit down with you and act as if you were already friends," said Katelyn Thompson, '10.
Instead of the skimping over the details of the life of one student in a flutter of paperwork and busy distractions that might be expected of an upper-level advisor dealing with thousands of students, Moore takes the time to sit down with each individual student, eye to eye, and simply talk. His rigorous knowledge of the academic system at Saint Joseph's makes him an invaluable consultant to all who seek help as a student, and his personal compassion and embodiment of the Jesuit ideal of living a life with and for others makes him the worthiest example to all who seek understanding as that human person which we all learned about in Philosophy I.
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