Mustafa Hess has made the most of his four years on campus, though he admits he didn’t start taking advantage of all 91�Թ� has to offer until his junior year.

“It wasn’t until spring semester of junior year where I was thinking to myself, I’ve been here for two and a half years, I don’t have that much time left. … I want to set a goal for myself of how I can enjoy myself and how I can meet other people by forcing myself to do that.”

And so he did.

Since diving into the array of events and activities available to students, he has become known among his peers in Dunne Hall for his “side quests.” When he’s not deeply invested in researching the causes and conditions of human rights violations and mass atrocities through the , he can be found going to Irish folk music performances, checking out the observatory in Jordan Hall or attending residence hall events.

A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Hess initially found the work-life balance of college challenging, but he came up with a concrete plan to improve his social life.

“It was really a matter of switching my perspective on work and trying to balance my relationships and learning that there will always be an amount of work that you can do, and it’s kind of endless. You have to accept what you can do, and that what you do is enough, and spend that time and energy with people trying to connect and have good relations.”

The Round Rock, Texas, native majoring in global affairs with minors in peace studies and French has trekked across the United States and Europe through opportunities afforded by 91�Թ�. Summer 2024 brought him to Brest, France, for six weeks at a language immersion school. Later, he joined a tour through the American South with the , focusing on important civil rights landmarks: Jackson, Mississippi; Selma, Alabama; Birmingham, Alabama; and Memphis, Tennessee. Two other history courses took him back to France, then Belgium, Germany and Poland. Those latter experiences touring Holocaust sites proved instrumental for connecting his research to its real-world examples.

One of the biggest influences on Hess during his time on campus was training and competing in the annual boxing tournament, which raises money for the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh. His original goal for his senior year was to be a resident assistant, and boxing was not on his radar. Plans changed — he did not become a resident assistant — but his endless motivation didn’t.

“I was thinking, ‘OK, if I don’t become an RA, I’ll do Bengal Bouts my senior year.’ And that was, for the most part, a joke,” Hess said.

“Boxing was the first time that I really felt pushed to do something. Hearing from the coaches, them giving us workouts and telling us things to do — both back at home and then also here for the men’s boxing club — has this aspect that you’re getting pushed to a certain limit. Because if someone is telling you to do this, you believe you can do it, and that push and that struggle was something that really attracted me.”

Though his Bengal Bouts run ended in the quarterfinal, he is grateful for the community he formed through this new experience and looks forward to what challenges he can tackle next as a consultant at IBM in Chicago.

The memories and friendships he formed at Dunne Hall are some of his most treasured moments from his time on campus. “Getting to know most people in your dorm of over 200 people is just a very nice feeling and a very welcoming sense. … That was one of the main pulls for me to stay on campus and live as an on-campus senior, because that’s been the core of my social life.”

Escaping the heat, some of the center’s predicted 150-plus infant and toddler beneficiaries were present and able to explore their new learning and care space. The bright, colorful rooms welcomed families to interact with staff and see where their children will learn and play.

Amid a few babies fussing, and after parents secured some active crawlers, Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan, , the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, and , vice president for human resources, opened the program with remarks.

Building on the recommendations of a committee convened in 2020 to look at childcare assistance opportunities, the new center is part of a commitment from University leaders to support faculty, staff, students, and their families.

“One thing became clear early on: There was, in this region and at 91�Թ�, a significant shortage of childcare in our area, especially for infants. So here we are today. This new center is more than a building. It represents a meaningful investment in our people . . . who are our greatest asset,” McGreevy said.

Adjacent to University housing for married and parenting students, this KinderCare facility provides a central location for on-campus parents. When the center opens later this month it will serve more than 100 families: 30 from University faculty, 53 from staff, and 22 from graduate and professional students. “That is a true cross-section of the 91�Թ� family,” McGreevy said.

McGreevy believes that opening this facility will create a positive ripple effect for the community. “This is a proactive investment in family support services. It’s one of the many ways that 91�Թ� is working to ensure that our faculty, staff, and students can thrive professionally, of course, but also personally. This investment is exactly the kind of work that our University calls us to do.”

The center has 21 teachers on staff, including the resident chef, to care for children ranging from 6 weeks to 5 years old. Classrooms are divided into age-specific programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, with specialized activities designed to nurture developmental growth and personalize education.

Creating this space was not the only recent investment made by the University to support families, Cullinan added. “In addition to the construction of this facility, NDHR also doubled the adoption benefit for families and centralized websites for parenting resources.” Cullinan shared that the University also hired a full-time Family Services Consultant, Maureen Baska, to help staff navigate their family's caregiving needs and connect them with benefits and resources. Staff can with Maureen at their convenience.

Cullinan emphasized the logistical feat of this construction, having broken ground in 2024 and completed on schedule for the 2025-26 academic year thanks to the collaborative effort between KinderCare and 91�Թ� staff.

The new KinderCare facility is a tangible expression of the University's commitment to walk with community members, be they students or employees, in the moments that matter. This is another step in 91�Թ�'s mission to support families so that all can thrive, both personally and professionally.

Marlene DiPasquale, vice president of KinderCare for Employers, expressed her gratitude and excitement for the new facility. “Thank you for including us today in your celebration and kudos to you, University of 91�Թ�. This is an outstanding step to take for your families, and I love the fact that you’re recognizing it’s for all members of your community.”

, vice president for student affairs, closed the program with a prayer and blessing of the facility. “I just want to speak on behalf of all of our students, especially our graduate, our professional students, our undergraduate students, and our parenting students, about how excited we are for this new facility, this new opportunity. It is such a blessing for us, and thank you to all those who have been involved in making this possible.”

KinderCare — the nation’s largest childcare and early education provider — has delivered expert early childhood education for more than 50 years and currently partners with several universities. The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) at 91�Թ� and Saint Mary’s College will continue to operate on campus and work in collaboration with KinderCare.

Originally published by Julia Wilson, Writer/Editor at on August 12, 2025.