3–4:15 p.m.

Mission in Action: Building Professional Capacity to Support Student Faith Development

Student affairs professionals at Catholic colleges and universities integrate Catholic identity and student development through discussions, programming, and support, thereby strengthening our Catholic Franciscan missions. However, little is known about how they learn this form of identity development. This session, inspired by recent research and St. Francis’s Canticle of the Creatures, aims to inspire transformative practices that honor the beauty and complexity of faith in our educational communities. Participants will engage in a roundtable discussion on the intersection of faith development and professional practice, with takeaways to better equip educators to support student faith development and animate our Franciscan mission.

Presenters: Sarah Williamson and Nadirah Roberts, Neumann University
Location: NRC 104

Franciscan Justice Circles: Seeking Justice Through Franciscan Action

Do you long for a way to gather with others to take meaningful, rooted action for justice, peace, and creation on your campus, in your community, in our country? Come and see what it is like to be part of a community for action rooted in gospel values and Franciscan spirituality. There will be a short talk followed by a one-hour immersive experience so you can try a Franciscan Justice Circle.

Presenters: Michele Dunne, OFS and Nora Collins, Franciscan Action Network
Location: NRC 101

Assisi Pilgrims Share Insight and Inspiration

Going on a Franciscan pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy, is an individual and collective experience. A panel of past pilgrims will revisit their journey, share insights, and reflect on how memorable moments made them think about the world differently. Topics will be covered from building deeper connections, to appreciating the beauty of the environment, to leaving or taking something important. The goal is to identify how we can take the teachings of St. Francis and move them forward to inspire and transform educational communities.

Presenter: Martha Boehm, Viterbo University
Location: BRC 123

The Role of Social Work in Advancing Peace and Social Justice

The Social Work profession is a critical voice in promoting peace and social justice. This presentation examines the role of social workers as advocates for marginalized communities, conflict resolution, human rights protection, and policy reform. Grounded in principles of antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion, social work bridges the gap between macro systems and individual empowerment. As a profession, social work fosters resilient communities through collaborative engagement. The presentation highlights the efforts and ethics of Social Work in peace and social justice work at the local and global level.

Presenters: Jennifer Anderson-Meger, Janet Holter, and Erin Meiss, Viterbo University
Location: NRC 205

Teaching and Learning About Environmental Racism and Sustainability Issues Through Research: Case of Psychology Students

This presentation captures the process of incorporating the topic of sustainability into an academic course to instill and reinforce Franciscan values. Specifically, in the last four years, I have incorporated the topic of environmental justice and environmental racism into my senior seminar in psychology as small group research projects. Students reviewed peer-review journal articles on environmental justice and impacts of environmental issues on humans. They then generated their research questions and conducted survey studies to examine college students’ attitudes toward and actions on environmental justice, climate change, and sustainability. Through their empirical research, students increased their awareness of environmental issues, made the connection between the environmental justice issues in real life and the importance of Franciscan values such as “stewardship” and “care for creation.” They also considered how to practice these values in real life.

Presenter: Etsuko Hoshino Browne, Neumann University
Location: NRC 207

Francis and Freshman Foundations 101: Traditions as the Basis for the College Freshman’s Future

Many colleges and universities have introductory courses for their freshmen. These courses commonly cover topics to prepare freshmen for academic success and membership of their college community. This presentation offers the 800-year Franciscan traditions as a framework to address these goals. We illustrate this using stories such as Francis and the Leper, the Wolf of Gubbio, and Clare’s Rule of Life in providing values to students. We present this material in a manner where faculty with various academic backgrounds, and less Franciscan knowledge, may easily apply these stories and lessons.

Presenter: Joe Coate, St. Bonaventure University
Location: NRC 207

The Sacred and the Profane in the Canticle of the Creatures

We take an interdisciplinary approach to stewardship and the Canticle with two presenters, one a theologian and one a biologist. We explore this subject through the lens of the sacred and the profane. This concept was first posited by Emile Durkheim and later popularized by Mircea Eliade. The sacred refers to the transcendent nature of reality, and the profane to the more scientific and everyday understanding of nature and existence. We will analyze this concept as well as the relevant teachings of St. Francis and Pope Francis; theology and biology of creation, sin, salvation, and eschatology; and sustainability at Alvernia.

Presenters: Donna Yarrl and Spencer Stober, Alvernia University
Location: NRC 202