Announcing the Release of Success on the Sound: A History of Fairfield University

The new book chronicles the remarkable history of Connecticut's only Jesuit university, from its founding to its rise to national prominence.

Fairfield University is proud to announce the publication of a new book that tells the remarkable story of the school's evolution from a commuter college for men into a nationally prominent co-ed doctoral-professional university. Success on the Sound: A History of Fairfield University was co-written by University Archivist Elise Bochinski, Professor Emeritus Paul Lakeland, PhD, and Professor Emeritus Kurt Schlichting '70, PhD.

Published by Saint Joseph’s University Press, copies of Success on the Sound are now available for purchase at the Fairfield University Downtown Bookstore and will soon be available online.

Drawing from interviews, statistical data, and archival sources from Fairfield University and the Jesuit Archives and Research Center in St. Louis, the authors – each with deep ties to the University – bring their unique perspectives to this historical narrative. Bochinski, Dr. Lakeland, and Dr. Schlichting recount the stories of the Fairfield community, offer insights into the evolving nature of the University's Jesuit mission and identity, and highlight the school's role within the larger landscape of Catholic higher education in the U.S.

“Success on the Sound is a celebration of the vision, perseverance, and commitment to excellence that have shaped our institution into the nationally recognized university it is today,” said Fairfield University Provost Christine Siegel, PhD. “It captures the spirit of our Jesuit mission and the transformative impact that Fairfield has had on the lives of its students and the broader community.”

Interested in learning more? Read an interview about the book with Dr. Lakeland, which was featured in the fall 2023 issue of Fairfield University Magazine.

About the Authors

Elise Bochinski has been the University archivist and special collections librarian at Fairfield University since 2003. A certified archivist with a BA in anthropology from New York University and an MS from Southern Connecticut State University, she also studied acting at RADA in London and the National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York City. Bochinski is a member of the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of College and Research Libraries (Rare Book and Manuscripts Division), the New England Archivists (NEA), and the Society of American Archivists (SAA). Success on the Sound is her first publication.

Professor Emeritus Paul Lakeland, PhD served as the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Chair of Catholic Studies and was the founding director of Fairfield's Center for Catholic Studies until his retirement in 2023. A distinguished scholar and author of ten books, Dr. Lakeland’s academic and research interests include the Catholic Church, the Papacy, religion and literature, and the relations between religious commitment and progressive politics. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Catholic Theological Society of America (President, 2018-19), the College Theology Society, and the American Theological Association. 

A member of Fairfield's Class of 1970, Professor Emeritus Kurt Schlichting, PhD, taught at Fairfield for more than 40 years and served as the E. Gerald Corrigan ’63 Chair in Humanities & Social Science. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. Schlichting received his MA and his PhD from New York University. He is the author of three books: Grand Central Terminal: Railroads, Architecture, and Engineering in New York (2001); Grand Central’s Engineer: William Wilgus & The Planning of Modern Manhattan (2012); and Waterfront Manhattan: From Henry Hudson to the High Line (2018). Dr. Schlichting’s research on Grand Central Terminal laid the groundwork for the award-winning PBS: American Experience documentary, Grand Central.

Related Stories