Eric F. Spina has served as president of the University of Dayton, a top-tier national Catholic research university, since July 1, 2016. He has earned a reputation on campus and beyond for his open and collaborative leadership style. He uses his blog, From the Heart, to share his reflections on current events; highlight innovative, creative and inspiring people on campus and in the Dayton community; and share news about the university. This collection contains PDFs of the blogs, which were originally published on the University's blog platform.
Submissions from 2024
United: Sun, Moon and Us, Eric F. Spina
First We Soar Goal Met!, Deborah Flanagan Tobias
Lamps Shining in the Night, Eric F. Spina
Rock Star, Eric F. Spina
The Joy of Serving, Eric F. Spina
You Have a Home Here, Eric F. Spina
You Can Write!, Eric F. Spina
Bridge Builders, Eric F. Spina
Get Together, Eric F. Spina
Family First, Eric F. Spina
Belonging, Eric F. Spina
One Relationship at a Time, Eric F. Spina
Submissions from 2023
A Christmas Message of Peace, Eric F. Spina
Striking Up the Band, Eric F. Spina
Grit and Heart, Eric F. Spina
When the Walls Talk, Eric F. Spina
A Marianist Thanksgiving, Eric F. Spina
Fly Me to the Moon, Eric F. Spina
Of Porches and Possibilities, Eric F. Spina
Three Weddings and a University, Eric F. Spina
As Long as the River Flows, Eric F. Spina
Dare to be Great, Eric F. Spina
Hail Mary!, Eric F. Spina
One Tent. One Community., Eric F. Spina and Teri Rizvi
What's with the Italics?, Eric F. Spina
Dream No Little Dreams, Eric F. Spina
Raising Walls, Building Community, Eric F. Spina
A Marianist Heart, Eric F. Spina
Show Up!, Eric F. Spina
Welcome Home, Flyers!, Eric F. Spina
A Lesson From My Summer Vacation, Eric F. Spina
Helping Future Flyers Soar, Eric F. Spina
Putting First Gen First, Eric F. Spina
Leading the 'We Soar' Cheer, Eric F. Spina
Rising to the Occasion, Eric F. Spina
The Art of Soaring, Eric F. Spina
A Life Changer, Eric F. Spina
A Dayton Original, Eric F. Spina
Lessons from a Philosopher-Provost, Eric F. Spina
Always Say Yes!, Eric F. Spina
It's About People, Eric F. Spina
A Seat at the Same Table, Eric F. Spina
We Soar!, Eric F. Spina
All in for UD, Eric F. Spina
A Source of New Life, Eric F. Spina
Raising the Curtain, Eric F. Spina
Losing Two Generous Spirits, Eric F. Spina
Say Yes', Eric F. Spina
Virtuous Circle, Eric F. Spina
A Partner in Our City's Destiny, Eric F. Spina
Houses of Faith, Karen Spina and Teri Rizvi
A Man for Our Times, Eric F. Spina
Be Uncommon, Eric F. Spina
A Healthy Partnership, Eric F. Spina
Submissions from 2022
The Wonder and Faith of a Child, Eric F. Spina
Hands-On Learning, Eric F. Spina
The Challenge of Change, Eric F. Spina
Miracle on UD Street, Eric F. Spina
Forever Linked, Eric F. Spina
Gathering Around the Table, Eric F. Spina
Wind Beneath Their Wings, Eric F. Spina
The Flyer Connection, Eric F. Spina
A Home for Mary, Eric F. Spina
In the Running for the "Heisman", Eric F. Spina
Transformative Leaders, Eric F. Spina
A Great First Impression, Eric F. Spina
By the Numbers, Eric F. Spina
A Voice at the Table, Eric F. Spina
A Debt of Gratitude, Eric F. Spina
Welcome Home, Flyers, Eric F. Spina
Hold the Door for Each Other, Eric F. Spina
The Joy of Undergraduate Discovery, Eric F. Spina
"The Heart Work", Eric F. Spina
Go Anywhere. Do Anything., Eric F. Spina
My Top Five, Eric F. Spina
Behind the Pomp and Circumstance, Eric F. Spina
For Everything There is a Season, Eric F. Spina
Of Life, Love and Puppets, Eric F. Spina
#UDStrong, Eric F. Spina
Principled Leadership, Eric F. Spina
Engaged. Generous. Selfless., Eric F. Spina
Hope's Great Promise, Eric F. Spina
Flyer Love Is Boundless, Eric F. Spina
Catalyst for Social Justice, Eric F. Spina
The Experience Changed My Life', Shaq Tensley
God's Song of Creation, Dominic Sanfilippo
I Lead by Choosing Love, Eric F. Spina
Guiding Lights, Eric F. Spina
Courageous Leaders, Eric F. Spina
Friends Helping Friends, Eric F. Spina
A Poet and His Song, Eric F. Spina
The Joy of Making Music, Eric F. Spina
More Than a Trustee, Eric F. Spina
Elevating the Arts, Eric F. Spina
Submissions from 2021
Gifts of the Heart, Eric F. Spina
Catapulting Dreams, Eric F. Spina
Build a Bigger Table, Eric F. Spina
The Art of Thinking Critically, Eric F. Spina
Soaring on Eagle's Wings, Eric F. Spina
A Grateful Heart, Eric F. Spina
Generous Hearts, Eric F. Spina
Visionary Leadership, Eric F. Spina
In the Good Name of Jessie Hathcock, Eric F. Spina
What it Takes to Bridge the Access and Success Gap for Lower-Income Students, Eric F. Spina
Symbols of Solidarity, Eric F. Spina
Not of Voice Alone, But Heart, Eric F. Spina
#DoublePell, Eric F. Spina
A Prayer for Peace, Eric F. Spina
High Competence, High Character, Eric F. Spina
A Canvas for Creativity, Eric F. Spina
Welcome home, Flyers!, Eric F. Spina
One Community. One Family., Eric F. Spina
(Extraordinary) Moments in Time, Eric F. Spina
Be the Change, Eric F. Spina
Learn. Lead. Serve. Pray., Eric F. Spina
At Home, Eric F. Spina
A Nobel Soul, Eric F. Spina
The Home Team, Eric F. Spina
A Desire to Serve, Eric F. Spina
Selfless Sacrifice, Eric F. Spina
Ingenuity Meets the Human Spirit, Eric F. Spina
Confetti and Cheers, Eric F. Spina
Sacred Stories, Eric F. Spina
The Mother of Invention, Eric F. Spina
One Family, Eric F. Spina
24 Hours of Flyer Love, Eric F. Spina
An Easter Message of Joy and Hope, Eric F. Spina
A Promise Fulfilled, Eric F. Spina
Out of Many Faiths, Eric F. Spina
Delayed — But Not Denied, Eric F. Spina
Courageous, Resilient Women, Eric F. Spina
Five Ways Universities Can Be Anchors in Their Communities, Eric F. Spina
A New Beginning for the Dayton Arcade, Eric F. Spina
A Community of Care and Support, Eric F. Spina
Pulling Through — By Pulling Together, Eric F. Spina
A Seat at the Table, Eric F. Spina
Heroic Work, Eric F. Spina
A Time Comes When Silence is Betrayal, Eric F. Spina
Submissions from 2020
O Holy Night, Eric F. Spina
It's Not All About Me, Eric F. Spina
Gifts, Eric F. Spina
Goodbye, Our Friend., Eric F. Spina
The 'Aha' Moment, Eric F. Spina
Thanksgiving Reflections, Eric F. Spina
Christmas on Campus Lives On!, Eric F. Spina
God's Work, Eric F. Spina
Place at the Table, Eric F. Spina
The Flyer Family, Eric F. Spina
Demonstrating Respect During Challenging Times, Eric F. Spina
What's in a Name?, Eric F. Spina
Silver Linings, Eric F. Spina
The Hope of Your Generation, Eric F. Spina
5 Flexible Teaching Tips, Julia Randel, Randy Sparks, and Shannon Driskell
Bridging the Workforce Gap, Eric F. Spina
First Steps on the Path Forward, Eric F. Spina
From Coast to Coast — Together, Eric F. Spina
Q & A with Medical Experts, Eric F. Spina
A New Playbook, Eric F. Spina
Morning Sun, Flicker of a Candle, Eric F. Spina
Return to Campus, Eric F. Spina
Godspeed, Daria, Eric F. Spina
Inspiring Greatness, Eric F. Spina
May Love Light Our Path, Eric F. Spina
Resilient, Eric F. Spina
The Path Forward, Eric F. Spina
Even Apart, We Are One, Eric F. Spina
Look Upward — And Inward, Eric F. Spina
Senior Class Portrait, Eric F. Spina
We're Bringing UD to You, Eric F. Spina
Virtual Stander, Eric F. Spina
It Was a Godsend', Eric F. Spina
Breaking Bread — Virtually, Eric F. Spina
Renewed Hope, Eric F. Spina
When Ingenuity Meets the Human Spirit, Eric F. Spina
We Are One, Eric F. Spina
Voices of Courage, Eric F. Spina
Shrinking the Inequality Gap, Eric F. Spina
Erasing a Carbon Footprint, Eric F. Spina
A Higher Calling, Eric F. Spina
That's a Wrap, Eric F. Spina
Feeding the Soul, Eric F. Spina
Dialogue. Advocacy. Action., Eric F. Spina
God Led Me Back to UD', Eric F. Spina
Building a Place for All, Eric F. Spina
Ohio Reprograms Its Future, Eric F. Spina
Submissions from 2019
The Miracle of Christmas, Eric F. Spina
Thank You, Dad, Eric F. Spina
The Greatest Gift — Our Flyer Selves, Eric F. Spina
Serve First. Lead Second., Eric F. Spina
A Glimpse of God, Eric F. Spina
Grateful Hearts, Eric F. Spina
Raising the Bar — and Passing It, Eric F. Spina
Community Means — and Requires —Everyone, Eric F. Spina
We See You, Roger Brown, Eric F. Spina
Return on Investment, Eric F. Spina
Happy 200th Birthday!, Eric F. Spina
Georgia on My Mind, Eric F. Spina
Finding Your Path, Eric F. Spina
Full Circle, Eric F. Spina
UD Arena: Where We Fly Together, Eric F. Spina
Think Before You Click, Eric F. Spina
Expanding Opportunity, Eric F. Spina
Collaboration — It's in Dayton's DNA, Hunter Phillips Goodman, Jeff Hoagland, Michael M. Parks, and Eric F. Spina
Soaring High, Eric F. Spina
What is Your Calling?, Eric F. Spina
Paying It Forward, Eric F. Spina
Blessed Are the Peacemakers, Eric F. Spina
My Heartfelt Welcome, Eric F. Spina
One Community, Together, Eric F. Spina
Joy of Discovery, Eric F. Spina
To Teach as Jesus Did, Eric F. Spina
Closing the Gender Gap in UD Engineering, Eric F. Spina
Servant-Leader, in Word and Deed, Eric F. Spina
Tiny Loans, Big Dreams, Eric F. Spina
#DaytonStrong, Eric F. Spina
Opening Doors, Eric F. Spina
A Lab With Wings, Eric F. Spina
Get Ready to Fly, Eric F. Spina
Make Your Life a Masterpiece, Eric F. Spina
Great Joy, Eric F. Spina
A $24 Check — and a $1 Million Gift, Eric F. Spina
Homecoming, Eric F. Spina
Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity, Eric F. Spina and Paul Benson
A Dream Takes Flight, Eric F. Spina
51!, Eric F. Spina
One Imaginative Idea at a Time, Eric F. Spina
Easter Joy, Eric F. Spina
The Power of Sharing Our Stories, Eric F. Spina
Unsung Heroes, Eric F. Spina
One Day, One Dayton, Eric F. Spina
Acing It, Eric F. Spina
In the Game, Eric F. Spina
Reaching Out, Eric F. Spina
Hate Has No Home Here, Eric F. Spina
Closing the Gap, Eric F. Spina
Imagine, Eric F. Spina
Dancing for the Kids, Eric F. Spina
Models of Servant-Leadership, Eric F. Spina
The Bader Burger, Eric F. Spina
Every Life a Masterpiece, Eric F. Spina
Chaos or Community?, Eric F. Spina
Amazing and Brave, Eric F. Spina
Submissions from 2018
A Christmas Reflection, Eric F. Spina
In Real Life, Eric F. Spina
Radical Love, Eric F. Spina
Taste Test, Eric F. Spina
One Student at a Time, Eric F. Spina
A Thanksgiving Reflection, Eric F. Spina
Elevating Our Sights, Eric F. Spina
Our Voices — And Our Votes — Matter, Eric F. Spina
Is Civility a Lost Art?, Eric F. Spina
Standing in Solidarity, Eric F. Spina
All About Mary, Eric F. Spina
When 2+2 Equals More Than 4, Eric F. Spina
A Sign of Hope, Eric F. Spina
Here Comes the Sun..., Eric F. Spina
Roesch Refresh, Eric F. Spina
The Verdict: A Legal Education Pioneer, Eric F. Spina
Great Joy. Great Purpose. Great Struggle., Eric F. Spina
A Summer to Remember, Eric F. Spina
That's Passion, Eric F. Spina
Renewed Journey of Faith, Eric F. Spina
Great Joy, Great Blessing, Eric F. Spina
Welcome to the Neighborhood, Adèle!, Eric F. Spina
Our Home is an R&D Powerhouse, Eric F. Spina
Fresh Look, Same Soul, Eric F. Spina
A Difference Maker, Eric F. Spina
Hello, Mary, My Very Best Friend, Eric F. Spina
Welcome to the Family!, Eric F. Spina
Hats Off, Eric F. Spina
In the Footsteps of a Spiritual Giant, Eric F. Spina
Courageously Fearless, Eric F. Spina and Brian LaDuca
Art and Dayton's Collective Humanity, Eric F. Spina
And the Emmy Goes to..., Eric F. Spina
Make a Difference, Eric F. Spina
The Iron Man, Eric F. Spina
Walking the Walk, Eric F. Spina
A Day of Discovery, Eric F. Spina
Unfinished Business, Eric F. Spina
This is our UD, Eric F. Spina
Sparking Creative Thinking, Eric F. Spina
A Smart Investment, Eric F. Spina
Trailblazers, Eric F. Spina
Closing the Gap, Eric F. Spina
Talking Leadership, Eric F. Spina
A Mission Written in Their Hearts, Eric F. Spina
Let Us Become Known..., Eric F. Spina
A Place of Possibilities, Eric F. Spina
In the Spirit of Mary, Eric F. Spina
The Time is Always Right, Eric F. Spina
Submissions from 2017
One Community, One Family, Eric F. Spina
Leaders Who Serve (With Care), Eric F. Spina
Work For The Common Good, Eric F. Spina
Gratitude, Eric F. Spina
Community Means Everyone, Eric F. Spina
Going Global, Eric F. Spina
A Special Place, Eric F. Spina
Let's Dream Big, Eric F. Spina
Coaching Character, Eric F. Spina
Reimagining the MBA, Eric F. Spina
Beyond the Classroom, Eric F. Spina
Sharing a Common Purpose, Eric F. Spina
At Home, Eric F. Spina
Learn. Lead. Serve. Repeat., Eric F. Spina
Imaginative Minds, Eric F. Spina
Community Builders, Eric F. Spina
This is Your Community, Eric F. Spina
Insider Advice, Eric F. Spina
Our Promise, Eric F. Spina
Radical Spread of Love, Eric F. Spina
Why Diversity Matters, Eric F. Spina
A Window to the World, Eric F. Spina
One University. One Home., Eric F. Spina
Research for the Common Good, Eric F. Spina
Our Students Lead, Eric F. Spina
Joyful Send-Off, Eric F. Spina
Essential Conversations, Eric F. Spina
Simple and Poignant, Eric F. Spina
What is Faith?, Eric F. Spina
Code for Success, Eric F. Spina
This is Our Home, Eric F. Spina
A Class Act, Eric F. Spina
Dare to be Great, Eric F. Spina
Be a Hero, Eric F. Spina
Campus in Bloom, Eric F. Spina
The Road Starts Here Again, Eric F. Spina
An Easter Message of Hope, Eric F. Spina
Go With Joy, Eric F. Spina
A Century of Selfless Service, Eric F. Spina
How High Will We Fly?, Eric F. Spina
Our Calling, Eric F. Spina
For the Common Good, Eric F. Spina
The Least Among Us, Eric F. Spina
In a Word, Extraordinary, Eric F. Spina
Expressing Our Core Values, Eric F. Spina
This is Our UD, Eric F. Spina
Making a Difference, Eric F. Spina
Marching into Madness, Eric F. Spina
A Community of Welcome, Eric F. Spina
Living the Mission, Eric F. Spina
Bold. Imaginative. Distinctive., Eric F. Spina
Champion for UD and the Church, Eric F. Spina
A Grand Adventure, Karen Spina
And. Or. Not., Eric F. Spina
Our Values Guide Us, Eric F. Spina
3.8 Million Hours and Counting, Eric F. Spina
Why We Honor Dr. King, Eric F. Spina
Pursuing the Dream, Eric F. Spina
Our Moment in History, Eric F. Spina
To Know, Love and Serve, Eric F. Spina
Submissions from 2016
On the Road to 2037, Eric F. Spina
Christmas Eve 1968, Eric F. Spina
A Heartfelt Charge, Eric F. Spina
Hearing the Call, Eric F. Spina
The Greatest Gift, Eric F. Spina
Class Act, Eric F. Spina
Giving Thanks, Eric F. Spina
Telling Our Story, Eric F. Spina
Putting People First, Eric F. Spina
A Post-Election Message, Eric F. Spina
From Barista to CEO, Eric F. Spina
Rolling out the Welcome Mat, Eric F. Spina
Our Faith. Our Identity., Eric F. Spina
A Peek at Visioning Day, Eric F. Spina
First 100 Days, Eric F. Spina
Listening and Learning, Eric F. Spina
Incognito: Nighttime in the Student Neighborhood, Eric F. Spina
A Time to Come Together, Eric F. Spina
Winners, Eric F. Spina
Our Common Home, Eric F. Spina
A Time for Boldness, Eric F. Spina
Path of Selfless Service, Eric F. Spina
Building Community, Eric F. Spina
Journey of the Mind and Heart, Eric F. Spina
An Extraordinary Day, Eric F. Spina
New Times, New Methods, Eric F. Spina
A Place at the Table, Eric F. Spina
A Shared Vision, Eric F. Spina
Good Stewards, Eric F. Spina
Soaring, Eric F. Spina
Heart and Soul, Eric F. Spina
Innovation — It's in Our DNA, Eric F. Spina
Gratitude, Eric F. Spina
Happy First Day!, Eric F. Spina
Through the President's Eyes, Eric F. Spina
