On August 26th, John Carroll’s largest undergraduate class in this decade gathered in Kulas auditorium with the greater John Carroll community to celebrate the start of their collegiate journey.
With over half of the 700+ members of the Class of 2030 hailing from outside Northeast Ohio, the Class of 2030 signals an expanding national footprint for the university – one that has steadily grown in recent years.
The ceremony began with Malia McAndrew, Director of Teaching Innovation and Enrichment, framing the moment for the incoming cohort—inviting them to pause, reflect, and step intentionally into this next chapter:
“How do I feel about the person that I was just a few weeks ago? McAndrew asked. “And how do you want to move forward into the next stage of life? Create an intention for yourself and tomorrow, take that next step.”
McAndrew’s remarks were followed by Carolyn Noll Sorg, President of John Carroll University, who set a clear mandate for the incoming cohort: leadership isn't a future title, but instead a daily habit.
“Leadership is not a position. Leadership is a practice,” Noll Sorg told the packed auditorium. “You don't have to wait until someone elects you president of something. You don't have to wait for a title, a role, or until you graduate. Leadership happens in the choices you make every single day.”
Framing the collegiate experience as an active process of becoming, Noll Sorg challenged the Class of 2030 to see their time at John Carroll not merely as preparation for a career, but as an immediate responsibility to shape the community around them.
“Don't wait to become the person you hope to be someday,” Noll Sorg urged. “Practice becoming that person today. Practice courage, practice generosity, practice leadership... My hope is to see you prepared not simply to succeed in the world as it is, but to shape the world as it could be.”
Following President Noll Sorg, Convocation Commencement Speaker Dr. Michele Murray, President of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), took the stage.
Murray assumed leadership of AJCU in June 2026, becoming the first lay person to serve as president of the organization, which represents 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and Belize. A nationally recognized educator, speaker, and writer, Murray has dedicated three decades of her career to Jesuit, Catholic higher education, serving in leadership roles at the College of the Holy Cross, Seattle University, and Loyola University Maryland.
Reflecting on her own college days, Murray acknowledged the nervous energy filling the room and urged students to move beyond fear by embedding themselves in the rich tradition of Jesuit higher education. She reminded the cohort that their journey at JCU connects them to a worldwide network of scholars and leaders dedicated to serving others.
To navigate the next four years, Murray offered three core strategies drawn directly from the life of St. Ignatius: lean into curiosity, assume good intentions, and cultivate gratitude.
“You are entering an entire universe of ideas, taking your place among a community of scholars,” Murray told the class, encouraging them to ask bold questions, seek common ground across differences, and savor every step of the journey. “Don't squander these four years... Lean into curiosity, assume good intentions, and cultivate gratitude. Above all, remember that you are not alone.”
