Know the Power of You

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Know the Power of You
(and why I’m grateful Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, P ’92 came back to LMU)

Let me begin with a small disclaimer: this blog is not designed to wander into political commentary.

But it is about something adjacent to politics that we should all be able to agree on: the ability to sit together, listen carefully, and engage in real dialogue is not optional. It is essential.

With that said…

When history walks onto campus, say thank you

Earlier this week, we had the privilege of welcoming Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi P ’92 to LMU for a conversation with our students, an event hosted by the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and centered on the approaching 250th anniversary of the United States and the importance of civic engagement.

Speaker Emerita Pelosi is a two-time Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the first woman to ever hold that role.  

Regardless of one’s political perspective, we are honored when a national leader of that stature chooses to spend time with our students. It signals respect for their potential. It affirms that their questions matter. And it reinforces something we believe deeply at LMU: ideas belong in the open air.

LMU has a long history of hosting world leaders, cultural figures, policymakers, and thinkers from across the spectrum. We have convened debates, dialogues, and difficult conversations at critical moments in our nation’s story. That is part of our mission. It is part of our responsibility. It is part of our identity.

“Know the power of you”

The part of the visit that has stayed with me most was her message to students:

Know the power of you.

It’s simple. Direct. And deeply aligned with who we are as a university.

That phrase places responsibility where it belongs—not “out there,” not “someday,” not “when someone else fixes it”—but in the hands of the next generation, right now.

It also echoes what Jesuit education has always emphasized: formation. Our education is not simply about acquiring information. It is about learning how to show up in the world as your full self—grounded, thoughtful, courageous, and compassionate.

She told students to be ready for the work because it’s “not for the faint of heart.”

(Which also feels like a strong recommendation for students in midterm exam season.)

But beneath the humor is something serious: leadership requires conviction, resilience, and clarity of purpose. Formation prepares you for precisely that.

A Lion family connection

Speaker Emerita Pelosi isn’t just a historic public figure—she’s also part of our Lion family as an LMU parent. Her daughter, documentarian Alexandra Pelosi ’92, is an LMU alum. 

There’s something uniquely meaningful about welcoming someone back to campus not only as a leader, but as family. The pride. The continuity. The sense that this is part of a longer story.

During her visit, she referenced the many members of her family who were Jesuit-educated, and she wore a “We are Jesuit Educated” pin in their honor. It was subtle but unmistakable—a quiet acknowledgment that formation travels with all of us long after graduation.

And here is where this becomes less a fun fact and more a meaningful signal.

For the fifth consecutive session of Congress, approximately 10% of the members of the 119th Congress—56 current representatives and senators—are graduates of Jesuit colleges and universities.

In a legislative body of 535 elected officials, that is not incidental representation. That is formation at scale.

It spans party lines.

Speaker John Boehner, who succeeded Speaker Pelosi after her first term as Speaker of the House, is a graduate of Xavier University, one of our Jesuit peers.

So too is our own treasured alum, Hon. Anthony Coelho ’64, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a Jesuit-educated leader and principal architect of the ADA, Anthony’s life reflects the enduring power of formation in action. We were especially honored that he shared his story at President Poon’s inauguration (video here).

Jesuit education does not produce uniformity of ideology. It produces habits of discernment. Intellectual rigor. Conscience. Leaders who understand that ideas matter—and that engagement is a responsibility.

When nearly one in ten members of Congress share that formative experience, it tells us something about the enduring influence of institutions committed to educating the whole person.

Formation lasts.

LMU’s role: convene, challenge, listen

Events like this reflect something fundamental about LMU.

We are committed to civic dialogue and political engagement. Our role is to help students learn how to think critically, speak honestly, listen respectfully, and participate meaningfully in public life.

That’s why conversations like this matter. That’s why faculty leaders like Professor Fernando Guerra create space for thoughtful dialogue. And that’s why our students’ questions are always the most important part of the room.

We don’t gather because everyone agrees. We gather because conversation sharpens understanding.

As we look ahead, I’m also looking forward to sharing more soon about how LMU will continue to play its part in the democratic process this spring as we prepare to sponsor upcoming mayoral and gubernatorial debates. Details will follow. Because the best civic education is practiced, not just studied.

An unexpected encore

If the visit had ended after the student dialogue, it would already have been meaningful.

But the next day, Speaker Emerita Pelosi acknowledged LMU on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

It was a moment of pride because it affirmed that what happens here matters. That the formation of our students matters. That their energy, curiosity, and commitment to engagement are visible beyond our bluff.

We appreciate that gesture of respect toward our community.

Gratitude

I’m grateful to Speaker Emerita Pelosi for her generosity of time and spirit, and for engaging our students with seriousness and respect.

Thank you to Professor Guerra for facilitating a thoughtful conversation, and to Professor Emerita Victoria Graf for helping bring the day together. We were also honored to welcome Irish Consul General Caitlín Higgins Ní Chinnéide, whose presence recognized Speaker Pelosi’s deep connection to Ireland and her advocacy for peace and strong U.S.–Ireland ties.

My thanks as well to President Thomas Poon and Chair-Elect Michelle Dean ’84 for convening our community around an experience that reflects the kind of external engagement that opens doors for our students and alumni.

And a very special shoutout to our LMU MarComm External Relations team—especially Marissa Koller, our director of external relations—for the outstanding coordination of this visit. From arrival to departure, every detail was handled with professionalism, grace, and precision. When events run seamlessly, it’s because talented professionals are working tirelessly behind the scenes. This was one of those days.

Finally, to our students:

You were the reason she came.
And you are the reason we do any of this.

Know the power of you.

—John