St. John's College Alumni Association

Johnnies, we would love to include you in the "Class Notes" section of the Alumni Association's quarterly Eidos newsletter. Letting your classmates and the wider St. John's community know what you have been up to is as easy as filling out the form linked in the comments. Your submission will appear in the next edition, which is coming next month - so keep an eye out for the release announcement on our social media channels. We can't wait to hear from you!

This Bookstore Gets Good Mileage Rita Collins had a dream for her retirement: bringing books and people together all over the country. Behind the wheel of a van she’s making it happen.

Homecoming registration is officially open on both campuses! We are thrilled to welcome Johnnies back to Annapolis and Santa Fe for two weekends of celebration. Whether it’s been a few years or a few decades since you last sat around the seminar table, Homecoming is a chance to reconnect with the people and ideas that make the St. John's community so special. Register now with the links below!

⚓Annapolis Homecoming: Friday, September 25 – Sunday, September 27: https://engagement.sjc.edu/e/annapolis-homecoming-2026/
🔅Santa Fe Homecoming, Friday, October 9 – Sunday, October 11: https://engagement.sjc.edu/e/santa-fe-homecoming-2026/

Graduation is coming up in Santa Fe on May 23, and the Alumni Association has got graduating seniors covered by providing diploma tubes prior to commencement. This is just one of the many ways we support students throughout their time at St. John's and beyond. Seniors, we look forward to welcoming you into the alumni community next week!

A memorial service for longtime tutor and former Santa Fe Dean Matt Davis will take place on Thursday, May 28, at 6:00pm at the Loretto Chapel Museum, 207 Old Santa Fe Trail. All Johnnies are welcome. Note that there is no parking at the chapel; please park at one of the public lots nearby. After the service, there will be a reception at the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, 113 Washington Ave.

The Annapolis Commencement Ceremony was a wonderful event, with Tutor Rebecca Goldner delivering an inspiring and thought-provoking commencement speech. The Alumni Association would like to express our sincere congratulations to all the newly minted undergraduate and graduate alumni - we are so excited to welcome you into the association, as the future of our college and of the alumni community.

The Mind Has No Majors: How St. John's Approaches Reading, Conversation, Philosophy, Science, & More In this conversation, alum Sarah Schafer and tutor Krishnan Venkatesh explore the distinctive academic approach of St. John’s College, where students do not ...

We write with deep sadness to share that Santa Fe tutor emeritus and dear friend Matt Davis (A82) died unexpectedly on Friday, April 24, from an apparent heart attack. Matt was a cherished member of the St. John's College community. In addition to being an alum and a longtime tutor, Matt served as Assistant Dean from 2003-2005, Director of the Graduate Institute from 2009-2012, and Dean from 2015-2018. Known for his intellectual generosity, thoughtful presence, and deep commitment to the life of the mind, he made a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and alumni alike.

Those who had the privilege of working with or learning from Matt will remember his deep dedication to the mission of St. John’s College, his clarity of thought, his care for others, and his wonderful sense of humor. He brought seriousness and warmth in equal measure, and his absence will be profoundly felt across both campuses and throughout the alumni community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Jocelyn, and his daughter, Emily, as well as to all who knew and loved him. Jocelyn is surrounded by close friends, and she welcomes expressions of sympathy addressed to [email protected]. A memorial gathering is scheduled to take place in Santa Fe on May 28 at 6 p.m. We will share additional information as it becomes available.

Photo: Tutors Judith Adam, Matt Davis (center), and David Levine in conversation outside the Student Center, with the old elevated walkway to the Fine Arts building in the background, circa 2000. From the Meem Library Archives.

As SJCAAB President Brett Heavner's letter announced, the Spring 2026 of Eidos, the Alumni Association's quarterly newsletter, is now available! You can read it through the link in the comments below.

If you have news to share with the alumni community, we are now accepting submissions for the next batch of Class Notes to be included with Eidos Summer 2026, our next issue! You can submit a Class Note by using the Class Note Submission Form linked in the comments.