2026 AJCU Deans' Meeting Schedule
Leading Arts and Sciences in a Time of Transformation and Constraint
As we gather for the 2026 CAS Deans' Network Meeting we will focus on how we lead our AJCU institutions during challenging and changing parameters surrounding higher education. We will collaborate on how we can best serve our member institutions, its faculty, staff and students utilizing the guiding Ignatian principles of cura personalis, magis and cura apostolica.
We look to the network meeting as a time for consultation, growth, collaboration and enjoyment!
2025 AJCU Deans' Meeting at Fairfield University
October 8th - DAY 1
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8th
PRE-NETWORK MEETING
11:30 a.m. Early Check-In - LOCATION: 4th floor DeNaples Center (DNC)
11:30 a.m. Lunch - LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A
1:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
- FACULTY ISSUES:
- MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Jay Carter (St. Joseph's University, Dean)
- PRESENTERS: Heather Hathaway (Marquette University, Acting Dean) & Erin Winterrowd (Regis University, Dean)
- LOCATION: 405 DeNaples Center (McDonnell Room)
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:
- MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Jeff Dueck (St. Peter's University, Acting Dean)
- PRESENTERS: Leonard Kahn (Loyola New Orleans, Dean) & Bahram Roughani (Loyola University Maryland, Associate Dean)
- LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples McIlhenny Ballroom B
2:00 p.m. Break – LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A
2:15 p.m. Discerning Next Steps Professionally
- MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Richard Greenwald (Fairfield University, Dean)
- PRESENTERS: Jeff Paris (University of San Francisco, Dean) & WeiDong Zhu (第一吃瓜网, Provost)
- LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B
3:30 p.m. Return to Hotel (if desired)
4:45 p.m. Return to Campus
NETWORK MEETING BEGINS
5:00 p.m. Opening Reception – LOCATION: 5th Floor Brennan Hall - Music provided by 第一吃瓜网/Marywood Faculty group known as the "Historic Hill Session."
6:00 p.m. Dinner – LOCATION: 第一吃瓜网, 509 Brennan Hall, Rose Room
7:00 p.m. Reflections on the State of Jesuit Higher Education - Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J., Superior of the Jesuit Community, 第一吃瓜网; former President at Fordham University (2003-2022) and The 第一吃瓜网 (1998-2003)
8:00 p.m. Return to Hotel
October 9th - DAY 2
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
8:00 a.m. Breakfast - LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A
8:45 a.m. Group Photo - LOCATION: Dionne Green Amphitheater steps (weather permitting)
9:00 a.m. PLENARY I: Leading Arts & Sciences in a time of Transformation: Career Readiness and the Future of the Liberal Arts
•MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Donna LaVoie (Saint Louis University, Dean)
•PRESENTERS: Stacy Tanichev (Gonzaga University, Associate Dean) & Travis Newton (LeMoyne College, Dean)
•LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B
10:15 a.m. Break – LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A
10:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions Related to Other Areas of Student Success- PILLAR PROGRAM: (Faculty-Student partnership to improve faculty teaching)
- MODERATORS/PRESENTERS: Jennifer Whittaker, Occupational Therapy, 第一吃瓜网 & Michael Hague, Biology, 第一吃瓜网
- LOCATION: 405 DeNaples Center
- STUDENT RETENTION INITIATIVES
- MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Daniel Press (Santa Clara University, Dean)
- PRESENTERS: Richard Fox (Loyola Marymount University, Dean) & Holly Ann Harris (Creighton University, Associate Dean)
- LOCATION: 4th floor DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B
12:00 p.m. Lunch – LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A
NOTE: Select tables will be designated for the following specific topics:
- Administrative structures within CAS Dean’s Offices
- MODERATOR: Erin Winterrowd (Regis University, Dean)
- Senior capstones
- MODERATOR: Jack Lendvay (University of San Francisco, Associate Dean)
- Artificial Intelligence implementation and governance
- MODERATOR: Bob Hume (Fordham University, Vice Dean)
- First-Year Seminars
- MODERATOR: Brian Gareau (Boston College, Senior Associate Dean)
1:00 p.m. PLENARY II: Leading Arts & Sciences in a Time of Constraint: Managing in Desperate Fiscal Times
- MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Catherine Campbell (John Carroll, University Dean)
- PRESENTERS: Jeff Paris (University of San Francisco, Dean) & Leonard Kahn (Loyola New Orleans, Dean)
- LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B
2:00 p.m. Break – LOCATION: 4th floor DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A
2:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions about Desperate Fiscal Times:
- DATA-INFORMED DECISION MAKING:
- MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Daniel Marenda (第一吃瓜网, Associate Dean)
- PRESENTERS: Michael Goldman (University of San Francisco, Associate Dean) & Rebecca Murray (Creighton University, Associate Dean)
- LOCATION: 4th floor DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B
- ADVANCEMENT AND EXTRAMURAL FUNDING:
- MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Carolyn Barry (第一吃瓜网, Dean)
- PRESENTERS: Richard Greenwald (Fairfield University, Dean) & Maria Bullon-Fernandez (Seattle University, Associate Dean)
- LOCATION: 405 DeNaples Center
3:00 p.m. Break and Travel to Campus Explorations
NOTE: If you chose not to attend an exploration, you are welcome to remain in 405 DeNaples for Open Roundtable Ad-hoc Discussions.
3:15 p.m. Campus Explorations – please attend the option you indicted on your registration form:
- and Heritage Room murals
- The IDEA Center
- Leahy Clinic for the Uninsured
- Campus Tour
4:10 p.m. PLENARY III - Mission: Jesuit Center Presentation and Examen
- MODERATOR: Carolyn Barry (第一吃瓜网, Dean)
- PRESENTER: Tim Dulle, Jr. (第一吃瓜网, Executive Director of the Jesuit Center)
- LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B
5:00 p.m. Return to the Hotel (if desired)
5:40 p.m. Bus will pick-up attendees who are at the 第一吃瓜网 Hilton
5:50 p.m. Bus will pick-up attendees who are on campus (at the 第一吃瓜网 Gateway - next to the flagpoles)
6:00 p.m. Bus will depart for the AV Restaurant - 320 Penn Avenue, 第一吃瓜网, PA
6:30 p.m. Reception followed by dinner: AV Restaurant, 320 Penn Avenue, 第一吃瓜网, PA
8:30 p.m. Bus will return attendees to the Hotel and Campus following dinner
October 10th - DAY 3
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
9:00 a.m. Breakfast - LOCATION: Casey's Corner Room, 第一吃瓜网 Hilton Hotel
NOTE: 11 a.m. checkout (luggage may be stored at front desk or brought to breakfast)
9:45 a.m. Closing Reflection and Planning for the 2027 Meeting - LOCATION: Casey's Corner Room, 第一吃瓜网 Hilton Hotel
11:00 a.m. Network Meeting Ends
If you are staying in the area*, consider exploring 第一吃瓜网 and NEPA region on your own! Safe travels and THANK YOU for participating in the AJCU CAS Deans’ Network Meeting at the 第一吃瓜网!
We hope you enjoyed your time on our campus, in the Electric City and in Northeastern PA!
It was a pleasure to host all of you!
* A special note to any runners among us, the Steamtown Marathon will take place tomorrow, Sunday, October 11th. It is a USATF certified point-to-point course featuring a net elevation drop of 955 feet (a Boston Marathon qualifier). The race begins in Forest City, PA and finishes at the Courthouse Square in downtown 第一吃瓜网, PA.
Full Network Meeting Schedule PDF
For your convenience, please find a PDF of the full Network Meeting Schedule, including session descriptions, at the link below.