Gary Massa (Xavier), Rev. Charles L. Currie, SJ, Mary Kay McFadden (Seattle U.)

This week, Xavier University and Creighton University hosted the respective Jesuit Advancement Administrators (JAA) conference and the Commitment to Justice in Jesuit Higher Education conference. Both are among the largest and most widely attended conferences sponsored by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU).

From July 28-30, over 100 representatives from the offices of advancement, development, alumni relations, marketing and communications at 24 Jesuit colleges and universities attended JAA at Xavier to network with colleagues, share best practices and learn from notable keynote speakers. Speakers included Rev. Michael J. Sheeran, SJ (president of AJCU), Matthew Kelly (founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute), Thomas Scheye (higher education consultant and former Loyola University Maryland provost) and Joe Shadle (director of the Center for Mission and Identity at Xavier University).

A highlight of this year’s JAA conference was the presentation of the Rev. J. Barry McGannon, SJ award to former AJCU president Rev. Charles L. Currie, SJ. The McGannon award is JAA’s highest honor and is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to both Jesuit higher education and the advancement profession through service to Jesuit institutions and organizations. Fr. Currie was recognized for his years of service to AJCU, as well as his presidencies of both Xavier University and Wheeling Jesuit University, and other positions throughout his 40-plus years of service to Jesuit higher education.

For more information on the 2013 JAA conference, please click here.

From August 1-4, Creighton University is hosting over 300 representatives from Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and across the world, along with representatives from the Jesuit Curia, the Jesuit Conference, Jesuit Refugee Services and other international organizations and institutions, for the semi-annual Commitment to Justice Conference. This year’s conference theme is “On Fire at the Frontiers.”

Keynote speakers are Rev. David Hollenbach, SJ (University Chair in Human Rights and International Justice at Boston College) and Sr. Margaret Farley, RSM (Gilbert L. Stark Professor Emerita of Christian Ethics at Yale University Divinity School). Plenary speakers are Rev. Gerry Blaszczak, SJ (director of the new Curia Secretariat for the Promotion of Faith), Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, SJ (president of Loyola University Chicago; Secretary for Higher Education for the Society of Jesus), Dr. Kristin Heyer (Bernard J. Hanley Professor at Santa Clara University) and Rev. Thomas Smolich, SJ (president of The Jesuit Conference U.S.A.).

To learn more about the 2013 Commitment to Justice Conference, please click here. To watch live, streaming coverage of keynote and plenary speakers, please click here.