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"It is most helpful to have the opportunity to learn how the position and responsibilities of mission officers are evolving on campuses."

—Past Mission Officer Conference attendee

 

 

Mission Officers

 

Mission officers are among the most active leaders on campus in developing the Catholic identity of their university. As such, ACCU offers a range of programs, events, and publications to meet their various needs:

  • The Mission Leadership Institute is an intensive 4-day summer program designed to help new, emerging, and future mission leaders integrate and sustain mission on their campus.
  • The Mission Officer Handbook, vols. 1 & 2, offer the collected wisdom of 80 contributors on the role of the mission officer and effective practices used to advance Catholic identity on campus.
  • Entering its tenth year in 2021, the Mission Officers Conference gives both thoughtful and practical tools to these leaders. 
  • ACCU held an online conversation, "Care and Compassion during COVID-19: A Chat with Mission Officer Colleagues," in March. Read the resource document that came from this session.

 

2021 Mission Officers Conference

A 2021 ACCU Annual Meeting Pre-Conference Session

Thursday, February 4, 2021

11:00 am - 5:30 pm (EST)

 

Mission Officer Resource
Graduates

Ministering to All: Building a Spiritual Home for Hispanic/Latinx Students

This publication suggests a number of practical ways that your campus can integrate Hispanic/Latinx traditions in order to embrace all students and provide for their unique spiritual needs.

Download this free resource from the ACCU Store now

We recognize the power of teamwork and collaboration in Catholic higher education! We’ll see this in action during our virtual 2021 ACCU Annual Meeting pre-conferences. Plenary sessions for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officers, Student Affairs Officers, and Mission Officers will be attended jointly by participants of all three meetings. 

We look forward to the wonderful dialogue and collaborations on February 4!

 

Conference Schedule

11:00 - 11:05 a.m.   

Welcome and Conference Overview

Adam Setmeyer, Vice President of Mission and Ministry and Director of Campus Ministry, Marian University
11:05 am - Noon  

Liturgy of the Word Service

Leader:  Theresa Landrigan-Whelpley, Vice President for Mission, Salve Regina University

Homilist: Sr. Barbara Reid, OP, President-Elect, Catholic Theological Union

Readers: Sr. Karen Elliott, C.PP.S., Director of Mission Integration, Mount St. Joseph University

                Sr. Walter Maher, CCVI, Vice President of University Mission and Ministry, University of the Incarnate Word

                Kurt Schackmuth, Vice President for Mission & Assoc. Provost for Student Success, Lewis University

                Adam Setmeyer, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Marian University

 
12:00 - 1:10 p.m.  

Leading Communal Discernment on the Verge

Presenter: Sr. Judy Jewison, OP, Member of the Board of Trustees, Dominican University

Session chair:  Julianne Wallace, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Alvernia University
1:10 - 1:20 p.m.   Break
 
1:20 - 2:20 p.m.  

Collaborative Plenary Session 1
Finding God While on the Verge: Retaining and implementing mission at the core of Catholic higher education during challenging times and beyond.
Where is God in all of this? How is that brought back to campus? Mission is more meaningful nowadays than ever and Catholic higher education's advantage. Let's discuss how we might bring more life to discussions on campus, infuse this into the student experience, and celebrate our mission and Catholic identity.

Presenters:    
Abbot John Klassen, Saint John's University
Sr. Michaela Hedican, Former Prioress of the Saint Benedict's Monastery

Moderator: Mary Geller, Vice President for Student Developoment, College of Saint Benedict

2:20 - 2:30 p.m.

  

Break
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.  

Collaborative Plenary Session 2 
Partnered on the Verge: Fostering student collaborations with Student Affairs, Mission, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officers
Join us for a moderated conversation with panelists from four campuses on fostering partnerships across divisions, bridging any communication or outreach divides during the crises of the past year, and working together with students, demonstrating active listening and incorporation of the student voice.

Panelists: 
Keesha Burke-Henderson, Director of Diversity and International Student Success, Mount Mercy University
Lawrence A. Burnley, Vice President, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Dayton
Janet Cox, Dean of Students, Mount St. Joseph University
Rayshawn Eastman, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Mount St. Joseph University
Sr. Karen Elliott, C.PP.S., Director of Mission Integration, Mount St. Joseph University
William Fischer, Vice President for Student Development, University of Dayton
Nate Klein, Vice President for Student Success, Mount Mercy University
Emma Lantz, SGA President, Mount Mercy University
Crystal Sullivan, Executive Director of Campus Ministry, University of Dayton

Moderator: Matt Goodwin, Associate Vice President & Dean of Students, Saint Joseph’s College

3:30 - 3:35 p.m.

  

Break
3:35 - 4:30 p.m.  

Collaborative Plenary Session 3
The Catholic Call to Action on the Verge: Creating a Unified and United Catholic Voice on Racial Justice

Presenters:
Elizabeth Ortiz, Vice President of Institutional Diversity and Equity, DePaul University
Christopher Whitt, Vice Provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, Creighton University
Adam Setmeyer, Vice President of Mission & Ministry and Director of Campus Ministry, Marian University

Moderator:  Chris Haug, Vice President for Student Affairs, Neumann University

4:30 - 4:45 p.m.

  

Closing Prayer and Remarks

Julianne Wallace, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Alvernia University

Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, President, ACCU
4:45 - 5:30 p.m.  

"Breaking Bread Together" Socials

 

 

 

 
Questions? Please contact accu@accunet.org
Many thanks to our 2021 Mission Officers Conference Planning Committee members for their assistance in planning this year's conference!

Adam Setmeyer, Vice President of Mission and Ministry & Director of Campus Ministry, Marian University
Julianne Wallace, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Alvernia University



More Resources for Mission Officers

Building-AQUINASC
Support for Catholic Mission and Identity
Read about the programs and events that ACCU offers to support Catholic campus identity
Strengthening Catholic Identity
This series of brochures — or single volume — can be used as a campus primer to discuss Catholic identity
Mission Leadership Institute
This summer event promotes networking and shared learning among campus mission officers
 
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