04/30/2026
The most recent issue of Tower Magazine is out just this morning and as always features pieces on the marvelous, often hidden ways in which the diverse disciplines and departments form the connective tissue of the University of Dallas. Many of these stories demonstrate how the University of Dallas is distinctive, both with respect to larger, public universities and even to our own Newman Guide competitors.
This issue, like almost all of them, has a healthy dose of the Modern Languages.
Among the standout articles is "A Neurosurgeon Formed By the Core" on Dr. Alex Valadka, BS & BA ’83. It just so happens that in the Fall semester our own Affiliate Assistant Professor of Modern Languages Dr. Irina Rodriguez was instrumental in organizing “An Hour from the Front”, featuring Dr. Valadka and his experiences traveling to Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, twice a year, to help gravely wounded war victims: https://tower.udallas.edu/tower/neurosurgeon-formed-by-the-core
What's more, as we continue to read through the latest issue, we can't help but realize that the cover story of the entire issue features UD alumnus Brian Burch, BA '97, who of course is currently in Italy as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See:
https://tower.udallas.edu/tower/alumnus-serves-as-us-ambassador-to-the-holy-see
I would also direct your attention to another story in the issue, which recounts generations of UD students and their witness to Papal conclaves and reminds us of the connection between our commitments to liberal education and to the magisterium: https://tower.udallas.edu/tower/witnesses-to-history
