Dr. Robert Ludwig ends his tenure as IPS Director
Greetings and good wishes in this exceptionally warm summer!
Effective today, I will be stepping down from my role as Director of IPS.
My decision to step down after two terms and eight years is based on a pretty good sense of myself. I’ve loved being director of IPS. I had high expectations coming in, and the opportunities have exceeded my hopes and expectations. I’ve loved serving in this capacity. Nonetheless, the chronological clock ticks. I turned 68 a few weeks ago, and I have been running something (at Loyola New Orleans, DePaul, and now IPS) for thirty years. That’s a long time to be on-call 24/7/365 and basically the place where the buck stops. I don’t have the drive or the energy that I had eight years ago, and I really want to return to full-time teaching and do some important writing projects.
I want to continue to provide advice and counsel to IPS as needed or desired, but I’m delighted that Dr. Brian Schmisek will be joining the IPS community as director beginning next week. Brian comes to us from the University of Dallas and is uniquely prepared to confidently lead IPS into a thriving future.
My health is good (thank God), and I have no plans to abandon Chicago and Loyola at present. Down the road, Kathy and I may decide that it’s time for me to retire completely—but that time is not now. I thank you again for your work with IPS and want to continue to connect with many of you as we go forward.
With every good wish,
Robert Ludwig, Director
6 thoughts on “Dr. Robert Ludwig ends his tenure as IPS Director”
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Best wishes Dr. Ludwig. It was a joy to be a part of the IPS community while you served as the director.
Thanks for the good work, Bob, and enjoy your sabbatical. It was great knowing you. Will always cherish your welcoming smile. I still miss being at IPS.
Bob, I hope you enjoy a bit of well-deserved rest before returning to the classroom. You did a great job preparing us to “live extraordinary lives.”
Dear Bob: It was great learning from you. The class on early Christianity was particularly important in shaping my world view and ability to work as a pastoral counselor. Peace
Bob, thanks so much for bringing your hopes and dreams for IPS to us and accomplishing your goals. When you came, I have no doubt that IPS was on that maybe we don’t need this program anymore list at Loyola. You brought new life to the program, new degrees to the program, lots more students to the program and really put IPS back on the this is a great program list!!!!!!!
We all owe you a great deal. I hope you stay with us in your new role for years to come.
Personally, you have inspired me and been a great friend during my time at IPS!!!!!!! rob Connor
Dear Bob,
Thank you very much for all you have done to create a pastoral environment in the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola. I do hope and pray that the IPS will continue to have a pastoral approach, rather than a heavy academic approach to learning.
Bob, I believe that you are a very gifted teacher. It has been a blessing to have been in two of your courses. You seem to come alive in the joy of the Spirit, as you teach and share the love of God with the rest of us.
I am glad that you will still be on faculty at Loyola after you leave the director position.
Sincere best wishes, Dr Rosemary McHugh, M.D., IPS Grad Student