Note from a Thankful Grover
Thank you, Mr. President.
By Jake Reese
Last September, I highlighted the great transition occurring on the national political stage and within the ranks of CheckPoint News. Since then, the CheckPoint team has sought to advance the tenets of faith and freedom by highlighting the “real people and real stories that impact our lives.”
Today, a momentous transition for Grove City College was announced. In its wake, a real story about a real person who has impacted countless lives is appropriate.
As every Grover knows, President Paul McNulty’s optimistic energy, wise guidance, and devotion to God permeate campus life. From the stands of Thorn Field to the pulpit of Harbison Chapel, the President pours into each and every Grover. Although I cannot encapsulate the breadth of President McNulty’s influence, I can share my thanks for the guidance and mentorship he has offered and continues to offer me.
A Welcoming Mentor
From the first moments of arriving on campus as a freshman in 2022, President McNulty framed my Grove City experience. After moving to campus a week early for band camp, I headed to the band’s opening meeting. There, the President was waiting to welcome the freshmen and stress the importance of the music program. In the moment, I was surprised that a college president would bother welcoming a hundred early returning students. In retrospect, I realize that this act of kindness simply expressed President McNulty’s abundant love for Grove City.
I witnessed the President’s commitment to campus life again when I met him at an event early freshman year. Discovering my nascent interest in law school, President McNulty graciously invited me to talk about career trajectories over a meal. When we sat down for lunch a few months later, I was scared out of my mind. Here I was—a freshman political science major—having a one-on-one conversation with the college president. At that meal, President McNulty expressed genuine interest in my future and willingly shared his career insights. The President’s encouragement led me to think seriously about pursuing a career in the legal field. Since then, his continued mentorship and support have been invaluable in my preparations for the LSAT and law school.
My experience, however, is not unique. There is not a week that goes by without the President sitting down with students. He mentors, advises, and prays over our studies and professional futures. More than a mere administrator, the President takes time to make tangible impacts on the professional lives of my classmates.
An Engaged Teacher
Beyond sharing advice over meals, President McNulty impacts the academic and extracurricular life of campus. For the past two semesters, I have been privileged to study under the President through the Institute for Faith & Freedom. Examining the intersection of faith and public policy, the President fills each class period with Biblical wisdom, practical advice, and comical stories from Capitol Hill. Insightful and encouraging, the President’s courses have prepared me and my classmates to boldly enter the public square–a preparation for which I am most grateful.
Imparting values in the classroom, the President also serves as an indispensable support to student organizations advancing Grove City’s vision. Working directly with President McNulty through the Grove City College Journal of Law and Public Policy and the Institute for Faith & Freedom, I know firsthand that the quality of my extracurricular involvements would not be the same without his support. From fostering on-campus public policy conversations to making connections with our legal alumni, the President opens doors to promote faith and freedom.
For me and countless others, President McNulty has been one of the great blessings of attending Grove City College. His leadership, mentorship, and engagement have crafted the culture of my home-away-from-home and truly shaped my undergraduate experience.
As the President looks forward to a well-earned retirement, expressing my gratitude for all he has done is difficult. Perhaps a simple “thank you, Mr. President” will suffice.
About the Author
Jacob Reese is a research fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom and a content editor for CheckPoint News. He is a junior political science major and Trustee Scholar.
Jacob serves as the Executive Citations Editor for the Grove City College Journal of Law and Public Policy. He is Sergeant at Arms for The Federalist Society and is a member of the American Enterprise Institute Collegiate Network. He also works as a teaching assistant for Drs. Michael Coulter and Samuel Stanton.
In 2023, Jacob worked as an intern for Cornerstone Law Firm. There, he conducted statutory and case research, communications, and discovery in support of ongoing litigation. In the summer of 2024, Jacob worked as an intern at the Pennsylvania Family Institute. Jacob worked on researching political candidates and state welfare programs, authoring press releases, and meeting with state legislators.
Upon graduation, Jacob anticipates attending law school and entering private practice.
READ MORE BY JACOB REESE: Visionary Voting on Election Day
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or their affiliates.
Cover Image: Mark Schellhase, taken from Wikimedia Commons (Cropped). License.
Written by Jacob Reese. In Edited by Katelyn Livorse. Published 2025. Published by Clarissa Schuller.