James R. Doyle

James R. Doyle Endowed Scholarship

Before his retirement in August 2012, James “Jim” Doyle served as the vice president of Student Affairs for over 30 years at DePaul University. Jim joined DePaul when it had only 9,000 students and was known as the “Little School Under the El.” Over the years, he saw it grow into the nation’s largest Catholic university.

Jim felt a deep connection to DePaul’s Catholic and Vincentian mission, and took every opportunity to serve DePaul, his community and his family. His commitment to service and DePaul’s call to its community members to humbly serve were the catalysts for his own dedication to creating and supporting numerous service opportunities for our students at DePaul, in Chicago, across the United States and around the world. During his tenure, the DePaul Community Service Association (DCSA) grew from 15 student volunteers serving a soup kitchen to more than 2,000 students providing 500 hours of weekly service to communities throughout the Chicagoland area. Under Jim’s leadership, he spearheaded the first Vincentian Service Day in recognition of DePaul’s 1998 centennial. He invited faculty, staff and students to participate in DePaul’s annual “service bookends,” which begin with New Student Service Day in the fall and end with Vincentian Service Day in the spring. By living a life of service, Jim understood how service experiences shape young people, and make them more attuned to human needs and human dignity. In 2009, under Jim’s guidance, the Division of Student Affairs implemented the Socially Responsible Leadership model for students, student leaders, and student employees, so that students would understand and intentionally apply this new awareness of service commitment throughout all aspects of their lives.

In honor and recognition of his outstanding service to DePaul and its students, in early 2013, the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, president of DePaul, established the James R. Doyle Endowed Scholarship.