Why I Love Loras!

When I say that I consider the community at Loras College my family, I honestly mean it. However, my experience with calling my fellow Duhawks "family" is twofold. Of the ever-growing alumni base, I am either a son, brother, nephew, or cousin to 17 of them! Loras is part of who my family is, even before I became part of who Loras' family is. Like every story, there is a beginning, middle and an end, but I will tell me Loras story in a before, during, and after structure.

Be More. Before Loras.

I was lucky enough to be raised by two Loras alumni parents, Matt '82 and Jane (Einarsen) Doyle '83. Like my three older brothers, my parents never pressured me into going to Loras simply because they did. Maybe they didn't have to...maybe it was growing up hearing my parents' friends reminisce on their times as at Loras, or seeing my big brothers eagerly ready to drive back to Dubuque when August rolled around that did the convincing. Nevertheless, I was only hearing and experiencing positives about this school west of the Mississippi even before I was going through the college application process! During my senior year of high school, I visited Loras and attended its Business Analytics Symposium that was created to both promote the new Business Analytics major being offered at Loras and the analytics industry itself. At the symposium, I got even more clarity about what I could be doing with my next four years at Loras!

During Loras: Being a Duhawk

A new chapter of my life was starting in August of 2014 when I became a Duhawk. Thanks to the analytics symposium from the year before and the information I gained, I was heart set on majoring in Business Analytics, and I eagerly declared my major during my first week of college. I knew my 4-year route even before I knew my route on where any of my classes were! I quickly learned that there are two things that make Loras College such a special place. People and Experiences.

People.

The community of people at Loras goes unmatched. You walk past and interact with such genuinely caring students and faculty every single day. Don't believe me?! Follow Loras College President Jim Collins on Twitter and see how involved he is in his students' lives and successes! It's a school that practices what it preaches. Respect to all people of all walks of life. It doesn't matter where you're from or what you believe, Loras welcomes YOU!

Experiences.

Loras gave me countless opportunities to lead, to learn, and to grow by stepping out of my comfort zone! As part of the Breitbach Catholic Thinking and Leaders scholarship program, I got several opportunities to serve the community and promote ethically good causes. Not only did I learn how to changes minds, but I also learned how to work to change hearts through this 4-year scholarship experience! During my junior year, I had the life-changing and eye-opening experience of studying abroad in Lisbon, Portugal and traveling around the world! I am incredibly thankful for Loras' Study Abroad coordinators for opening the door to the beautiful cultures around me! Below is a quick highlight video of the adventures I went on:

Alumni and Life After Loras!

Throughout my four years as a Loras student, it quickly became apparent to me that my parents, brothers, and 12 other relatives weren't the only ones who were still in love with this school even after all the years had passed. Loras' alumni community is incredibly strong and is full of active members who are living out the "Once a Duhawk. Always a Duhawk" mentality. I received a lot of passionate support from several Loras alumni both as a student and as a professional. It is truly an unbreakable bond! One bond that I especially cherish is the one I made during my freshman year with my mentor, friend, and current manager Rich Clayton '87!

In March of 2019, Rich hired me to join him at Oracle where I am working as a Senior Product Manager for Oracle Analytics. Working and living in California as well as learning from some of the best minds in Silicon Valley has been a dream come true! Getting to combine these new lessons with the lessons and values instilled in me at Loras and applying them to a global business stage is extremely rewarding...and I'm only getting started! If you're curious about why I love working for Oracle and how I got where I am, check out my blog here!

 Go Duhawks!

 -Brendan Doyle '18