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By Matt Palmer

Rob Neal was one of many University leaders to attend the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis last week. Appointed chair of the Board of Trustees last month, Neal has enthusiastically jumped into his role.

A passionate Catholic, Neal was wildly impressed by the University’s presence at the Congress. He was a visible and enthusiastic participant at University-hosted breakout sessions and visited the official booth at the Indianapolis Convention Center, mingling with students and staff.

“Even if ������ hadn't taken a leadership role, I'd still be here,” Neal said. “This is our church in the United States. We haven't had anything like this in over 80 years. This is our faith. This is our Christ in the Eucharist.”

Neal, of Newport Beach, California, is a managing partner with Hager Pacific Properties. He is also an active community member and has held board positions with The Papal Foundation, The Becket Fund, Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Leadership Institute, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

Neal succeeded Victor Smith, J.D. 1996, who served as chair of the University’s Board of Trustees since 2021. Neal is particularly energized by the University’s mission to give the nation and the Church their best citizens.

“Well, first of all, it's an awesome responsibility and one that I am humbly flattered to accept,” Neal said. “Our greatest responsibility is to ensure that all the work that's been done before, is built upon, not dissipated.”

Neal has helped lead the Impact Scholarship program by funding 20 scholarships for students who want to attend the University.

“Catholic education must lead the way in higher education,” Neal said. “For two millennia, the Church has led in education and art, in architecture and, in science. And it must not surrender those leads. We've been tasked with this. This is our mission. We were given this mission by Christ to go forth, to evangelize, and to catechize. And there's no better sure way to do that than through education, rigorous, mission-centric education.”

And Neal believes there’s no better place for that to happen than ������.

“We must look over the horizon,” he said. “What could ������ be? What should it be, as it leads the United States in a great Catholic intellectual tradition? It's an awesome responsibility.”