IES Abroad Remembers Fr. Paul Locatelli

We at IES Abroad were saddened this week to learn of the passing of our longtime friend, Fr. Paul Locatelli, the chancellor and former president of Santa Clara University. Santa Clara was the first member of the IES Abroad Consortium over 45 years ago, and during his two decades as president of the university Paul was a great supporter of students studying abroad. He served as a board member here at IES Abroad from 1995 to 2001, and was instrumental in establishing a new center in Dublin. Mary Dwyer, President of IES Abroad, reflects, “Paul was so admired and liked that when he entered the room we all felt a sense of optimism about the future. He was center stage without ever drawing attention to himself…He advocated for IES Abroad expanding its global reach to the developing world and it has.”

Paul recognized the life-changing potential of study abroad, and his commitment to his students was exceptional. At SCU, he opened up these opportunities to the student body by allowing financial aid to transfer to study abroad programs for the first time. “He didn't want students to be denied the experience of studying abroad due to lack of funding,” writes President Dwyer. “Paul always put students first.”

Our deepest sympathies go out to Paul’s family and to the Santa Clara University community. His legacy will live on in his friends here at IES Abroad and in the thousands of students whose lives he has changed.