The Rev. Larry Snyder, St. Thomas vice president for mission, will retire on June 30, 2021, university President Julie Sullivan announced in an email to St. Thomas staff Jan. 25.

Snyder will be replaced by St. Thomas alumnus the Rev. Christopher Collins, who most recently served as assistant to the vice president for mission and identity at St. Louis University in Missouri. Collins will have some time to transition into his future role this spring semester by teaching a theology course and assisting part time in the Office for Mission.

In his new role, Collins hopes to “help people find themselves in ways that pertain to the Catholic mission that we all share,” Sullivan wrote.

Under Snyder’s community engagement initiatives, the Center for the Common Good was established and mission-driven engagement among faculty increased.

“(Snyder’s) contributions- from deepening community engagement to helping us articulate our charism and promoting interfaith and global service efforts- will leave an indelible mark on this institution,” Sullivan wrote.

Snyder is proud of his development of an interfaith approach to campus ministry.

“It’s not a watering down by any means of who we are as a Catholic university, but it is reaching out to those who worship in a different way and make sure that their time at St. Thomas isn’t going to be four years without any spiritual nourishment,” Snyder said.

Students benefited greatly from the interfaith approach, according to student representative for the Interfaith Council Ryan R. Avenido.

“There was a need to have this kind of religious solidarity,” Alvenido said.

Snyder will be remembered by colleagues for his empathy and helpfulness, according to Director of Campus ministry the Rev. Lawrence Blake.

“He always listened with a great deal of understanding but also offered words of wisdom to help guide me,” Blake said. “I’m really appreciative of that kind of advice.”

Snyder hopes to spend his retirement volunteering, visiting friends abroad and filling in as a priest.

Snyder said that he has thoroughly enjoyed his time at St. Thomas.

“I wish in many ways that I had 10 more years in my career,” Snyder said. “I’d love just staying at St. Thomas and being a part of it.”

Angeline Terry can be reached at terr2351@stthomas.edu.