Father O'Connell hugs Ernie Suarez after the chairman of the English department entertained the crowd at the faculty-staff reception in honor of the outgoing president. Suarez began his remarks saying, "I think he's making a mistake." After "roasting" Father O'Connell for several minutes, Suarez turned serious long enough to say, "it's absolutely indisputable that this university is so much better than when he got here."
Father O'Connell finds himself momentarily alone in the crowd at the faculty-staff reception in his honor. He spent most of the event greeting a steady stream of people thanking him and wishing him well.
"Miss Willie," as Father O'Connell calls her, brought a card to give to the departing president. Willie Joyner is a customer service liaison in the cafeteria.
A line of CUA faculty and staff wait to greet Father O'Connell as he shares a moment with Lourdes Maria Alvarez, associate professor of modern languages and literatures and director of the Center for Medieval and Byzantine Studies.
Lashaun Lowery and Durand Dohawk of the CUA Department of Public Safety pose for the camera with Father O'Connell.
Father O'Connell greets Tollesa Aberash, a member of the housekeeping staff.
Father O'Connell shares a moment with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Professor of Education and former provost John J. Convey. The two worked together as CUA's president and chief academic administrator from 1998 to 2007.
Rita Bogley, administrative assistant for the Catholic Historical Review, wishes Father O'Connell well at the faculty-staff reception. Bogley has been at CUA for the duration of Father O'Connell's presidency. "He gave me my 10-year pin, and now he just gave me my 20-year pin," she said.
Lourdes Zelaya of the housekeeping staff introduces her daughters Rebeca, 5, and Stephanie, 9, to Father O'Connell at the faculty-staff reception.
Hundreds enjoy the ample food and drink at the faculty-staff reception honoring Father O'Connell, CUA's outgoing president.
With photos of Father O'Connell flashing on the projection screens in the Great Room of the Pryzbyla Center, members of the CUA community gather to honor the departing president.
Father O'Connell and Jack Denka, of the Facilities Maintenance and Operations staff, share a laugh in the receiving line at the faculty-staff reception.
Canon Law faculty members Sister Rose M. McDermott and Monsignor Thomas J. Green chat with Father O'Connell at the faculty-staff reception.
Father O'Connell greets Ingrid Hsieh-Yee, acting dean of the School of Library and Information Science.
Nirmal Gomes, a technical services technician for the University Libraries, shares a moment with Father O'Connell.
The faculty-staff reception for Father O'Connell was a welcome opportunity for members of the CUA community to catch up with colleagues.
Frank G. Persico, vice president for university relations and Father O'Connell's chief of staff, kicks off the program at the faculty-staff reception.
A crowd of hundreds of CUA faculty and staff listen as Susan D. Pervi, vice president for student life, describes Father O'Connell as "a work-hard, play-hard man of faith."
Susan D. Pervi laughs as newly deputized "Officer" O'Connell briefly seized the microphone to make his first arrest after Capt. Barry McCoy, of the Department of Public Safety, presented the president with a badge and commander's cap.
Kevin Petersen, director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations, praised Father O'Connell as someone who provided "leadership, direction and understanding." The audience applauded during Petersen's talk when he observed that "in the middle of a financial crisis, CUA is not having layoffs and furloughs. CUA has half-day Fridays!"
Father O'Connell listens to one of the speakers during the faculty-staff reception.
Father O'Connell expresses his appreciation after Kevin Petersen's talk at the faculty-staff reception honoring the outgoing president. "He has a way of saying thanks that feels like a blessing," Petersen said.
Faculty representative Ernie Suarez offers the suggestion that Father O'Connell might consider a year's leave rather than stepping down as president. The English department chair offered to step in as interim president, noting that he wouldn't have to share the salary with a religious order. Father O'Connell is a member of the Congregation of the Mission, more commonly known as the Vincentians.
Father O'Connell is obviously amused at the "roasting" he underwent, courtesy of English professor and longtime friend Ernie Suarez.
At one point in his stand-up routine, Ernie Suarez imagines Father O'Connell dancing on a beach in Hawaii as he twirls his Roman collar in circles above his head.
Father O'Connell can only shake his head and laugh as Ernie Suarez tries to convince him to take a year's vacation instead of leaving Catholic University for good.
All eyes are focused on the projection screens in the Great Room of the Pryzbyla Center showing video highlights of Father O'Connell's presidency.
Representatives of the Catholic University faculty and staff present Father O'Connell with four signed photographs capturing some of the highlights of his years as president.
Father O'Connell embraces Victor Nakas, associate vice president for public affairs. "I hope you will remember us and your time at Catholic University as fondly as we will remember you," Nakas said.
Father O'Connell, playing off the "Legacy of Leadership" title of the event in his honor, said he is more likely to be remembered for his "legacy of holidays." The audience cheered when he said, "I made sure I got the calendar and sent it out before I left." The outgoing president's practice of giving CUA employees extra holidays was mentioned by several speakers.
Father O'Connell tells the gathering at his farewell reception, "what I will miss most is you." The outgoing president said the CUA community deserves most of the credit for the accomplishments of his 12 years as president. "I just showed up," he said. "The work is done by all of you."
"As I leave you, I just want to say thank you for letting me be here," Father O'Connell said. He closed his remarks, with this advice to his successor as CUA president: "Love the people of The Catholic University of America. I love you and I thank you."