USD Magazine, Summer 2003

recognition. Such esteem comes not with numerical rankings, she says, but when people throughout che United States instinctively equate USD with a reputation for excellence. Paul Purcell '97, who worked in Hayes' office for three years as a stu– dent, says che buildings - and the programs they house - ensure chat the intellectual and social growth of students and alumni continues. "Is the value of my degree more roday than when I graduated five years ago?" Purcell asks. "Most certainly it is. But, what I chink Dr. Hayes has done co enhance my degree 20 years from now is what's important. When we sic down and have chis conversation -five years from now, 10, 15, 20 years from now, when my children are ready co go to college - chat's when everything she did will enhance che value of my degree." The Resident, The Roamer Hayes grew up surrounded by extended family in a home where gather– ings large and small marked life's milestones. So it was no surprise chat Hayes, who lived on campus, opened her home co faculry, staff, students and friends co celebrate the universiry's accomplishments. The tradition began, somewhat inauspiciously, shortly after her inau– guration. By the time Hayes arrived at the Casa de Alcala, as the presi– dent's house is known, the guests were already inside. She entered through the back door and snuck into the master bathroom co freshen up before greeting her guests. When she walked in, a woman, who was looking in the medicine cabinet, whispered co Hayes chat she loved co see how "these people" lived. Hayes simply smiled and left. Moments later, in a receiving line, Hayes and che woman met again. Neither said a word about the incident. Such is life for a public figure who lives in a public Members of the Alcala Club, a group of students who worked closely with the president, said their goodbyes at a farewell celebration in May. administrators or faculry often come for recognition lunches, groups of communiry leaders arrive for tea or dinner, and each year hundreds of employees show up to celebrate Christmas. "Ac first I wasn't sure I'd like living on campus," Hayes says. "But, in face, I do. Ir's convenient. Ic eliminates a lot of stress and it's help– ful in a crisis." Oh, and there were crises. When a pipe burst in Camino Hall, Hayes was on hand co authorize emergency expenditures. And when a scheduling glitch meant she was at home rather than at Shiley Theatre for a concert, she dashed over after a frantic professor called. Hayes often made light of her life in a fishbowl. When the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice op_ened and its director, Joyce Neu, moved into an office across the road, Hayes says: "I ceased Joyce, and said, 'behave yourself over there, Joyce, because I can see everything you do. She said co me, 'behave yourself, Dr. Hayes, because I can see everything you do.' " And then there was the recent Sunday afternoon when rwo stu– dents showed up with a camera and an oddball request co tour her "crib" as pare of a funky USD-TV program called "The Loe Show.'' place. Fran Dolan, the social coordina– tor who arranges all the Casa events, says more than 1,000 people come through the home each year. Students,

"She was just awesome," says Damien Minna '03, a communica– tion studies major and the show's producer. "She showed us her kitchen, her back yard and her spa. I still can't believe she did it. I was just some random Joe who had the audaciry co knock on her door one weekend, and she was kind and warm. It really speaks a lot about her character and what a great person she is." In fact, Sunday afternoons were Hayes' special treat. She'd put work aside, make a pot of tea, sic on the patio and read. A lifelong learner, Hayes is just as voracious a reader now as she was in the days when washing the dishes couldn't stop her from soaking up knowl– edge like a sponge. It isn't uncommon for Hayes co read three books at a time - whether classical, historical or just something co keep her busy on an airplane. Recendy, she read The Sage ofMonticello, which describes Thomas Jefferson's life after retirement. Her post-presidential endt\:av– ors, Hayes says, likely will mirror his. "He spent his days working in the garden, traveling, reading, visit– ing galleries and cheaters and sleeping lace," Hayes says. "He served on several boards, wrote some books and built a universiry. 'Tm going co follow his example," she continues. 'Tm going to continue serving on some boards, do some writing and I'll continue co build chis universiry.'' As much as she loved her USD home, Hayes also loved traveling. She's hopscotched around the world co Greece, Germany and England. Meetings with the presidents of ocher Catholic universities cook her co Rome. As part of the People co People Ambassador Program, she par– ticipated in botanical delegations co South Africa, the People's Republic of China and the former Soviet Union. Although she'll keep a residence in San Diego and come back often co maintain ties, Hayes returned co Chicago after retiring. She also plans co spend rime in Ireland, in a house she built with her sisters in the tiny town ofLahardane - population 169. The town, situated at the foot of a mountain called Nephin, overlooks a lake called Lough Conn. "My parents lived in chat area, · and the land was owned by my __...;.._____ grandfather, so it truly is going home," Hayes says. '

As she closed the door co the Casa for the last time, however, Hayes immediately started missing the campus she called home for eight years. But she squared her shoulders and looked ahead, satis– fied chat she's lefr the Universiry of San Diego a better place. 'Tm not a look-back kind of person," Hayes says, ''I'll be chinking about the students, the faculry, the administrators, the alumni and friends of the universi– ry, but I leave feeling very excited about the things chat are going co happen at USD. "+

'

Alice B. Hayes took a final glance around the Casa de Alcala, her campus residence for eight years.

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SUMMER 2003