Three days before Thanksgiving, Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener stepped behind the carving station for one of the university’s most cherished traditions: the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, where faculty, staff, and administrators serve students a warm holiday meal before they head home for break.
As students approached the carving table, President Elsener greeted them with a smile and a bit of humor. While slicing into a fresh turkey, he laughed,
“You ever had such a good chef? No? No. You probably have. Ha, ha.”
The Dining Commons filled quickly, with hundreds of students gathering alongside professors, coaches, mentors, and friends. Music from the Marian Jazz Band set the tone for a festive evening, inviting the campus community to stay connected as the holiday season began. Students were also reminded to join Marian’s Choirs later that night for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting outside Oldenburg Hall, a campus favorite featuring a blessing and carols.
Chief Operating Officer and Chancellor Dr. Ken Britt was also behind the serving line, carving turkey and greeting students as they came through.
“ Our students are amazing young people who will become transformational leaders. Serving them tonight is one way to get to know them in a different light than in the classroom. ”
For some students, the evening offered more than a meal; it offered comfort.
Christos Perontsis ’27, an international student who did not grow up with Thanksgiving, shared how meaningful the tradition has become for him.
“I think this is a very good get-together with everybody,” he said. “I feel like it’s my family. I’ve come here to eat with my friends, my professors, staff, coaches, my coworkers from the IT help desk—and it’s just fun.”
When asked whether moments like this make him think of home, he nodded.
“Yes… it is very hard to be away from family and home. The food is different, the culture is different. But this makes me feel like I’m wanted here.”
Hosted annually by the Office of the President, Marian University’s Thanksgiving Dinner remains a highlight of the fall semester—an evening that blends service, gratitude, and community, reminding every student that they belong.