When Dr. Linda LeMura was named president of Le Moyne College in 2014, she became the first lay woman to hold that position at an American Jesuit college or university. Today, there have been eight more schools added to that list. “I’d call that progress!” Dr. LeMura says.
That huge increase — one to nine schools with a female president in less than a decade — reflects the growth of women’s leadership across the Ignatian family. This expansion is evident in every area of Jesuit ministry: colleges and high schools, retreat centers and parishes, social justice organizations, Jesuit governance, and national networks.
This Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the work of just a tiny percentage of the women leaders who serve the church and the world through their leadership in Jesuit and Ignatian ministries. These leaders shared a bit about their work and how Ignatian spirituality shapes their lives. They also offered their perspectives on ways the Jesuits can continue to improve how they welcome, empower and support women leaders.
In a few sentences, what does your job entail?
I sit in the seat of the pastor. The work is to service this local parish community by sharing my gifts of administration, pastoral leadership and pastoral care.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite work is journeying with people and providing pastoral and administration leadership through the lens of a woman.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
One challenge is lack of resources needed to ensure the parish is successful.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
I found the men’s religious order open and supportive of working in partnership with women. Although, most see it as relieving the burdens required to serving a parish versus a true partnership.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Ignatian spirituality invites me to pause and discern and/or reflect on the work in front of me, as well as invite me to examine the work and interactions of each day to further form me.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
Decisions are already made before we are aware of them. It would be more effective if we are at the table from the beginning.
What does your job entail?
My work consists of organizing international solidarity internships in Senegal to enable people from Quebec to meet other people from another culture in a dynamic of cooperation and sharing. I coordinate the work we do in Senegal with partner communities and organizations in order to respond to local problems or needs, with the collaboration of interns from Quebec, or by carrying out projects.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The ability to contribute to the work that several Senegalese organizations are doing for the development of their country.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
The biggest challenge I have been working on for two years now is the resumption of our organization’s activities. Due to the pandemic, we had to stop our international placements, and we officially started up again in 2023. Between recruiting new people, revising our tools and procedures, and several other projects, I am working on all fronts, and it is for a good cause.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
Mer et Monde was founded by a Jesuit priest, with whom I still have contact today, and I enjoy being involved in the Canadian Jesuit Province’s discussions on issues related to education, justice, ecology and Indigenous relations. This connection helps me to not stray from the values and vision that inspired the founder of Mer et Monde. Even though it is a male religious order, I see a great openness to collaboration and involvement of lay people and women in the work that the Canadian Jesuit Province is doing.
Concerning the shadow side, I would say that it is sometimes a matter of not understanding or grasping the issues or the dynamics of this religious order, but with time, over the course of the meetings, the shadow becomes clearer.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
It reminds me that faith and the desire to be like Jesus Christ must continually guide my work and my actions, and this is precious to me.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
I think that it is by giving women the opportunity to express themselves, to get involved, but also by equipping them through training or other means, the Jesuits and the church could empower them to express their leadership.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve learned is: “You transmit what you are, not what you do.” I learned it in the church, so it’s in a Christian context.
In a few sentences, what does your job entail?
As the director of religious education, I teach the Catholic faith and our Lakota teachings in a release-time program to 155 students in three schools during the school day. I also teach sacramental prep classes including baptism, First Communion and confirmation. We also have a youth group that we work with, called the SFM Youth group, for youth ages 11-18 years.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is teaching our faith and culture!
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
One of the challenges we face is the impact the boarding school has had on our people and communities. We had a boarding school on our reservation, and we see the effects of the generational trauma that continues today.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
I have been blessed to work in my position. One of the Father’s had faith in me to run the Religious Education program, and I think it has grown and continues to grow since I have started working here. I think I work well with the Jesuits and appreciate all I have learned from everyone I have worked with and continue to work with.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Ignatian spirituality has helped shape my approach to work through the core values of the Gospel such as integrity, courage, love, forgiveness, hope, healing, service, justice and prayer. In all the work we do, we follow these values, which are similar to our Lakota values: respect, prayer, generosity, humility, honesty/truth, wisdom and compassion/caring.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
I think more support and encouragement for women who work in the church would help.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
There was a Jesuit scholastic who is now a priest who was a big influence in our lives while he worked with the St. Francis Mission. We were doing a fundraiser for our parish, and I was worried nobody would come. He encouraged us to keep doing what we were doing and to remember that even if only one person shows up, we are still making a difference in someone’s life. I remember his words when I feel discouraged with anything we do.
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
I’m a graduate of the Jesuit School of Theology.
What does your job entail?
I direct a center that explores the intersections of faith and justice through faculty research, public events and university programs.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy accompanying faculty and staff as they explore meaning and purpose in their work at a Jesuit university. I am passionate about promoting engagement with Catholic social thought, especially Pope Francis’ social teaching, within a religiously diverse community.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
My experience of the (Spiritual) Exercises is foundational in my life and my work. Living into the demands of Catholic social thought — into solidarity with humanity and creation — requires freedom from individualism and consumerism. At least for me, this is a lifelong journey and I need a spiritual foundation to sustain me.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
We need more opportunities for transformative encounter across roles in the church so we discover our common call through baptism. I find consolation in the formative experiences I have had alongside Jesuits — theological studies, the practice of spiritual direction, social engagement — where the Spirit led us and cultivated a community of friendship. We all need this friendship if we are to live into the joy of the Gospel and freedom that comes from the Exercises.
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
My father was one of the first retreatants to Loyola House in Guelph in the mid 60s! I remember coming here when I was very young — to pick apples, attend midnight Mass and walk the trails.
What does your job entail?
I am the lead business director of the centre, including human resources, financials and operation. I work closely with the organization’s managers to ensure long-term sustainability of this beautiful and sacred place.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The diverse range of our apostolate allows me to engage with many different people over many sectors, building a strong and intentional community.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
I find myself discerning the age of our Jesuits and what that means for the province. These priests and brothers sometimes work well into their 80s, and I think it’s time to reframe that model. Diocesan priests retire and I believe Jesuits need the same freedom.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
I’d hoped that we would move away from the men/women references in 2023! It’s just people working with people and that is life-giving and grace filled.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Likely the greatest tool has been that of discernment — the deep dive into consolation and desolation is invaluable.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
Allow women to preach at Mass in all churches.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it!
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
What does your job entail?
I lead the development and execution of short- and long-term strategies for Loyola Press, a Chicago-based publishing ministry of the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus. The mission of Loyola Press is the following: In the spirit of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who points us always to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and in response to those we serve, we create books and multimedia products that facilitate transformative experiences of God so that people of all ages can lead holy and purposeful lives with and for others. Loyola Press has two divisions: curriculum (which focuses on PreK-12 religious education and language arts) and trade (which focuses on individual works for all ages — infant through adult).
What is your favorite part of your job?
When I joined Loyola Press in 2008, I was initially captivated by the Jesuits’ sense of mission and their dedication to quality, integrity and innovation. My enthusiasm has only grown since. It’s a joy to lead Loyola Press in the quest to provide the finest learning materials for children and the most inspiring, relevant Ignatian and Catholic writing and resources for individuals. It’s refreshing to work for an organization that executes its mission so intentionally — and serves that mission in ways that are creative, engaging, accessible and effective.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
The decline in those who identify as Catholic and/or those who regularly practice their faith (and subsequently the decline in baptisms and other sacraments, enrollment in religious education and Catholic schools, and so on) provide a big challenge for Loyola Press. Despite the challenge, we are working diligently to enter into new mission-aligned markets so we can reach wider audiences while continuing to serve those who remain engaged in the life of the church. Our emphasis on Ignatian spirituality for adults (a big tent!) and social-emotional learning for children in trade, as well as an expansion of offerings in curriculum for English language arts and faith formation for individuals with disabilities, will help us meet this challenge and keep us relevant in the future.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
My favorite quote is from “Heroic Leadership” by Chris Lowney (a Loyola Press book!). They are words to live and lead by:
“Jesuits became leaders by
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
I was regional director of Ignatian Volunteer Corps Chicago.
What does your job entail?
I see my most important role as inspiring and encouraging our board, staff and volunteer community to do our best each day in living out Ignatian Spirituality Project’s (ISP) mission and helping to provide us with the resources to do so!
What is your favorite part of your job?
I have met the most interesting and inspirational people through my time at ISP: from our wonderful alumni and participants to our volunteers, staff, board members and benefactors. These individuals make it so that my work never feels like work.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
One of the perennial challenges of leading a ministry like ISP is to heighten people’s awareness of the poor and marginalized in our society — the homeless, the addicted, the incarcerated. They also have spiritual needs. These are the people Jesus spent time with, and yet these are the folks many of us wish to avoid.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
The Society of Jesus should strengthen its use of women leaders, teachers and mentors in the training and formation of Jesuit priests and brothers.
The Society of Jesus should consider lending support to the cause of women’s ordination to the deaconate. This is an important next step in our church.
What does your job entail?
As principal, I collaborate in the mission leading spiritual and academic programs at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola. I supervise school processes, procedures and programs that ensure a holistic formation of college-bound young men. I assess teaching practices, monitor student performance, foster homeschool connections, revise school policies and procedures, hire for the mission, evaluate academic staff, oversee school curricula and extracurricular activities, lead accreditation processes, and oversee the budget for academic programs.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of being an Ignatian educator is journeying with youth. The most rewarding part of my job is having the opportunity to accompany students and see them achieve their goals. I enjoy visiting classrooms to see students engage in deep analysis and debates and participate actively in class discussions. I have an open door policy for teachers, students and parents. Students visit me to present proposals for clubs, organizations and changes in our school processes, such as more time for the recess period. I especially enjoy supporting student initiatives and participating in extracurricular events in which students showcase their talents in sports, clubs and organizations. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to accompany seniors from the class of 2021 on their Kairos spiritual retreat, which was truly a transformational experience.
I find great joy working closely with Proyecto students and have been a Proyecto teacher for 7th grade students as well as a tutor in our Saturday academic program for prospective students. The program is for talented students from the public school system in the metropolitan area in Puerto Rico who are admitted in San Ignacio in seventh grade. Proyecto is at the heart of our commitment to social justice. It has been very rewarding to see San Ignacio alumni who were part of this program and are now surgeons, artists and accomplished professionals making a difference in their communities and who come back to San Ignacio as donors for other students in the program.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
Lights: Jesuits are men with a clear vision and mission committed to their apostolate. Partnering with Jesuits in the mission of evangelizing through education has led to my spiritual growth and understanding of the divine dimension to my vocation as an educator.
Shadows: I have sometimes been the only woman of color or only woman “at the table.” I acknowledge the tension between feeling underrepresented and of embracing the opportunity of “being at the table” to assert my voice as a woman who is an Ignatian collaborator committed to advancing a common mission.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Ignatian spirituality has shaped my life in many ways. Prior to my arrival to Colegio San Ignacio, my exposure to Jesuits was through spiritual retreats in Manresa. When I turned 21, I prepared to receive the sacrament of Communion in the Manresa Chapel after a spiritual retreat. I have been a practicing Catholic ever since. The Ignatian commitment to serving others was part of my experiences studying abroad in Chile when I volunteered in one of Father Alberto Hurtado’s Hogar de Cristo centers in Santiago. These first experiences introduced me to Ignatius’ teachings as a way of life.
I have served as a school principal at Colegio San Ignacio for the past five years. During this time, I have learned a way of proceeding through Ignatian spirituality and contemplative leadership in action. From the Jesuits, I have learned new dimensions to being a reflective practitioner through the examen (“pausa ignaciana“). The Ignatian discernment enables me to approach my responsibilities motivated by the greater good. God’s invitation in Ignatius’ words “to love and serve others” helps me address daily challenges understanding that I serve a greater mission. I see myself as an active collaborator in the mission to evangelize through educating leaders committed to build a more compassionate and just world for the greater glory of God.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
“Pray as if God will take care of all; act as if all is up to you.” –Ignatius of Loyola
Other Jesuit institutional connections:
What does your job entail?
I have the honor of serving as the executive director of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society. My role is to provide visionary and exemplary leadership of the society by pursuing our stated strategic goals and objectives. With the board president, my job also entails enabling the board to fulfill its governance function and ensuring that all actions and decisions of the society reflect the values of Alpha Sigma Nu and Jesuit higher education.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of being executive director of Alpha Sigma Nu is connecting with people who are collaborators in the Jesuit mission. I have the privilege of working with members which include faculty, staff and students at our 32 partner Jesuit institutions (currently 27 in the U.S. and five abroad), as well as a vast network of alumni members. There is a common language, a shared vision and an enthusiasm to connect with a network that has a shared purpose.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
One of the challenges that our organization is facing is the interest and desire to expand further beyond the United States and our five current international chapters. However, the Jesuit network is so vast that the American-centric practices of an honor society do not translate exactly in its current form to every context. There is great potential, nevertheless, to tap into the idea of honoring college graduates around the world who are committed to the Jesuit mission.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
Because our societal systems perpetuate patriarchy, the shadows that I’ve experienced working in partnership with a men’s religious order are ones that I experience in many other facets of society. There are unspoken norms and cultural conventions that prohibit women from being heard and taken seriously as leaders. When women are put in positions of leadership, they are scrutinized at a higher degree. Some of the lights are the pockets of progress in Jesuit higher education where important questions are being raised, and Jesuit leaders are critically examining these systems that uphold outdated cultural conventions and norms. I, as a person who identifies as a woman and Ignatian collaborator, have been asked to provide feedback on improvements to make spaces more inclusive. It will be interesting to know how women collectively will inform the actionable changes that could occur in the future.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
A foundational component of my work is rooted in the practice of discernment. In both moments of consolation and desolation, our work calls us to be present to God’s grace. It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day busyness, but acknowledging that we are encouraged to slow down and to be deliberate sustains the work.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
Bring lightness into the work. I think the person who said it meant both to work smart but also to be a light to others by focusing on being present and joyful and prioritizing relationships.
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
What does your job entail?
Currently, I teach our two junior religious studies classes, Making Moral Decisions and Social Justice. I also work with our vice president for mission on the spiritual formation for our faculty and staff, including prayer and retreats, the Magis program for new employee formation, small groups, and other spiritual events.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love teaching religious studies because my students have so much curiosity about the big questions of life and desire to make the world better, and these intersect perfectly with what we do in the classroom. Working in faculty and staff formation is a great privilege: to have time and space for the formation of adults at our school, as well as the students, and to be able to share in companionship and spiritual conversation with colleagues.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
I think that clericalism is a challenge for every layperson working in the church, especially in the assumption that faith and ministry work would only be done by a priest. In working with the Jesuits, I’ve been grateful for the opportunities to work alongside Jesuits in formation and ministry roles and to study Jesuit history, pedagogy and spirituality. I’ve seen more and more intentional inclusion of diverse voices in leadership and ministry in the Jesuits, and I’ve been grateful for all the times a leader has explicitly offered me an opportunity and for those who have supported me in new roles. I think every leader has the responsibility to open and sustain more spaces at the table.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
When I teach about the “Characteristics of the Graduate at Graduation,” my students always connect so readily to the idea of being “open to growth.” Ignatius teaches us that when we reflect on our experiences with an open spirit, this can lead to action, which helps us adapt to better serve a changing world. Teaching and ministry both require the reflection, humility and flexibility that come with Ignatian spirituality.
Other Jesuit institutional connections:
What does your job entail?
I execute the mission of the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City to show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and Ignatian spirituality. Our core program is the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (19th Annotation), and all of our efforts are to introduce seekers to Ignatian spiritual practices and invite them to this transformational experience with one of our prayer companions.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Sharing about Ignatian relational prayer with others that they might encounter Christ personally and find a way to traverse everyday life and concerns in trust and freedom.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
We are a small organization and our current challenge is to structure the Ignatian Spirituality Center of KC with a balance of volunteers and paid staff to continue the mission. It is always a challenge to offer pricing that attracts people to retreats and to also break even.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
Honestly, this is my only experience working for a religious order and it has been mostly light. I have been encouraged and formed for this role by the Jesuits involved in the center and have always felt valued and appreciated for my work as a volunteer, as well as in this role as executive director.
The only shadow is in the past the Jesuits themselves remained somewhat siloed within Kansas City, and the local community (outside of the Jesuits involved in the Center) did not have much to do with the center. Today, the community is less siloed, and I have interactions with most of the Jesuits in Kansas City either through collaboration or convening at area events. They regularly pray for our mission and offer themselves in retreat support when needed.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
It’s everything. I am a bit of a perfectionist, so in beginning this role I really felt the weight of the role on my shoulders. The Call of the King invitation has guided me. Christ’s invitation for me to come work with him (conmigo) has encouraged me to let go of needing to plan everything out to a T and to join the adventure in trust and love and see what new thing the Holy Spirit is bringing about. Over three years in, I am more comfortable with the unknown and open to framing what is coming and then trusting in the Spirit to fill all the gaps.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
I see them doing this today in all the women who lead Jesuit organizations in the United States. We have been given a platform for our voices to be heard and our labors to be seen. At the institutional church level, it would be nice to know Jesuits are promoting the voices of women to be heard during liturgy, and maybe someday women will be allowed to give a homily during Mass (I am not advocating ordination). I think this is one place where our voices and perspectives are left out to the detriment of the community.
Globally, I imagine there is more to be done in countries where women have no voice, and I hope that Jesuits are walking with them to help them find more possibilities to flourish in their communities.
Other Jesuit institutional connections:
What does your job entail?
My current position involves teaching, training and practicing restorative justice in all aspects of life, including in the criminal justice system, community/neighborhood environments and schools. I facilitate restorative justice dialogues between victims, their families and perpetrators in crimes of severe violence. I teach and train law students to use restorative processes in conflict resolution situations — particularly in working with disadvantaged populations. We are currently working on a training program for residence advisors at Marquette University and another program for police officers. We are putting on a conference involving Indigenous restorative practices from a variety of reservations.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I have done many things in my life — from being a lawyer, trial court judge and Supreme Court Justice, to now serving as a restorative justice advocate — but I believe my current work, particularly with victims of crimes and vulnerable people, is truly my vocational call. I experience God’s presence in the healing journeys I take with the people I serve — and in the opportunity to show future lawyers how they too can serve others by this work.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
The biggest challenge is that there’s a great need for facilitated dialogue and healing in all aspects of our culture, our communities and our families. So much work needs to be done.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
I have received such grace and direction from working in and with an Ignatian framework. Everything from personal spiritual direction, retreats and guidance have led me through tough decision-making and challenging points in my life. The shadows really involve the challenges of carrying on the mission and spirituality within a modern American university and our current American culture.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Most importantly, I experience — and encourage my students to experience — God in all that we encounter in our work. I am closest to my faith sitting in a maximum security prison with prisoners, victims, students and community members in a healing circle sharing stories of violence and healing.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
There continues to be a great need to be able to find ways to invite women leaders into environments in which they can experience the beauty and grace of Ignatian spirituality. I suggest that more focused retreats and offerings for rising leaders would be helpful.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
Proceed with empathy, kindness and care in your leadership. Have courage in your approaches and always listen with your heart before acting.
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
I was office assistant at Nativity Jesuit Academy and facilitator at Casa Romero Renewal Center, both of which are Jesuit institutions in Milwaukee.
What does your job entail?
I serve as the lay administrator of the parish, directing all aspects of operation, serving to implement the purpose and vision of the parish, and assuming responsibility for the day-to-day management of all parish matters at Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Patrick’s Parishes.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The opportunity to share my faith with people who need help to stay faithful to God’s love.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
The language barrier is my challenge; I seek to share and learn from people who speak a language that I have not mastered.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
I seek in every activity and moment to love and serve my neighbor, seeking to support even more those who are most unprotected, marginalized or forgotten.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” –Madre Teresa
Any last thoughts you’d like to share?
I had the fortune of immigrating to a city where I was able to continue to strengthen my Catholic faith in my native tongue and be part of a parish that offered me Ignatian spirituality. The Jesuit priest in charge at that moment helped me and my family feel welcomed and that God was walking with us in our journey as immigrants.
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
My two boys attended Georgetown Prep High School in North Bethesda, Maryland. Additionally, I am on the board of Magis Americas and serve as their treasurer.
What does your job entail?
I oversee all regulatory, compliance and corporate governance for the Jesuit Conference; serve as legal counsel to the president and socius; and oversee most of the operations of our office. In other words, whatever needs to be done.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Living out my faith as an integral part of my work. Working for an organization that encourages my growth as a person.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
As a woman working in a governance structure of the Society, it is interesting to be both involved in so many important matters while also being on the outside of those matters.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
I approach my work in a way that reflects my beliefs, recognizing that my faith and work are linked. My work here at the Jesuit Conference is not just a job whereby I complete tasks and facilitate processes. My work is my vocation, one in which I am in service to those that I work with, work for and lead.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
The Society should fully embrace GC 36’s call for collaboration. That is more than just “working together”; it also involves examining how decisions are made in the Society and seeing if decision-making and consulting structures could be more collaborative.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
Delegate and trust. Be kind and be responsible.
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
What does your job entail?
I am responsible for developing the overall strategic direction and leading major initiatives for the college. This has included developing collaborative partnerships with other higher ed institutions and advocating for increasing Pell Grants to address racial and economic inequities in higher education access.
What is your favorite part of your job?
By far, my favorite part of the job is interacting with and getting to know our students. Even though my schedule makes it challenging, I make it a priority to meet with individual students, student groups and students who are leaders in campus governance, athletics, ministry, the performing arts and other areas vital to our community. As a lifelong educator, I recognized long ago how satisfying it is to be around young people and feed off their innate creativity, natural curiosity and ambition as they develop into confident and adaptable adults.
I’m drawn to the words of Superior General Arturo Sosa, SJ, in the Universal Apostolic Preferences, and the section on accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future. “To accompany young people demands of us authenticity of life, spiritual depth and openness to sharing the life-mission that gives meaning to who we are and what we do. Having these, we can learn, along with the young, to find God in all things, and through our ministries and apostolates, we can help them live this stage of their lives more profoundly. Accompanying young people puts us on the path of personal, communitarian and institutional conversion.”
Despite the many obstacles and challenges they face in this complex and often troubled world, the more I am around them and see firsthand what young people are capable of accomplishing, the more optimistic I become about our future.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
This year marks my 20th year in Jesuit education. As my roles have changed at Le Moyne, I have been blessed to work with many wonderful Jesuits, each with their own nuances about spirituality and how magis and cura personalis shape our collective work.
As a scientist, perhaps the most influential Jesuit for me was the late George Coyne, SJ, who I brought to Le Moyne in 2012 and was fortunate to have on our faculty for eight years. George was a world-renowned astronomer who directed the Vatican Observatory for almost 30 years. His views reconciling science and religion caused serious reflection in the church. A true renaissance man, his Catholic faith and Jesuit formation guided him. He was also a pragmatist. One of my favorite quotes from him is “There are dimensions to me that are not just the thinking person, but the person who is much richer, the person who has other emotional experiences, psychological experiences, these experiences also enrich me.”
Ignatian spirituality serves as a wonderful guide to my work and my life, an anchor that helps me navigate and make sense of the complexities of our world and our existence. The profound humanism at the heart of this spirituality, including being people for others and serving the oppressed and marginalized, ground me and help me recommit myself each day to my job and the task at hand.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
By acting with intentionality. When discussing important matters, all of us should ask who is missing from the table. I am heartened by some significant advances in women being elevated into an increasing number of leadership roles, particularly within Jesuit higher education. Since I became the first lay woman to become president of a Jesuit college or university in the U.S. in 2014, there have been eight other institutions led by women. I’d call that progress!
What does your job entail?
The Jesuit Social Research Institute (JSRI) works to transform the Gulf South through research, education, advocacy and service on the core issues of poverty, race and migration. The institute is a collaboration of Loyola University New Orleans and the Society of Jesus, rooted in a faith that does justice.
As executive director of JSRI, I have the privilege of building and supporting a phenomenal staff and advisory board, as well as developing JSRI programs and fundraising efforts in line with our mission. In my first year, I have primarily concentrated on building a prison education program at Loyola and collaborating with other Jesuit leaders through the Jesuit Prison Education Network.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is working with students in the prison and on campus. As much as I love research and administration, I’m an educator at heart. Accompanying students as they grow and learn gives me purpose. I love to watch students gain confidence and find their path. One of our students in the prison wrote to us:
“Furthering my education during my incarceration has been almost from the beginning my hope and dream above all else, constantly in my prayers. My prior college experience constituted the happiest years of my life and I’ve deeply regretted not finishing. I must admit that when I received the acceptance letter, after reading it multiple times, I cried for sheer joy. So again, thank you (and everyone else involved in the process of bringing Loyola to RCC) sincerely.
“One of the things that incarceration has done to me is compounded feelings of worthlessness and meaninglessness, which I’ve already struggled with most of my life, but for the first time in a long time I feel once again in control of my own future and that good things could be just beyond the horizon. Loyola is the number one contributor to this positive shift in my life.”
I get to be a part of that student’s journey. Basically, I have the best job in the world.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
JSRI’s most immediate challenge and opportunity is growth! We’ve secured additional funding to support our work and have the opportunity to hire new people and expand our focus. Growth is always a challenge — it’s exciting, but also requires great care and consideration to move in the direction that we are being called. Progress is always slower than I think it will be, but in this job, I have the grace to take time and listen for vision.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Ignatian spirituality has been the greatest gift of this job. I didn’t have any experience with the Jesuits prior to starting this position. I was immediately drawn to the social justice focus of the Universal Apostolic Preferences. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the Ignatian Colleagues Program (ICP), and I am making the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises. ICP taught me the basics, and daily prayer and meditation has deepened my faith and connection to God. I’ve been able to share Ignatian spirituality with our students in the prison, too. I am grateful not only for the tools and resources but also for the people. I’ve loved getting to know Jesuit priests and the amazing folks that work with the Jesuits internationally. I’m grateful to be a part of this network!
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
I strive to be a servant leader. A mentor told me, “Bosses tell people what to do. Leaders work as hard as you do to do what needs to be done.” I see administration and leadership as a ministry. I pay close attention and listen to the people that I work with in order to serve them and move us all toward our goals. It’s not easy to remember to listen. Some days I get caught up in the urgency of deadlines or pressure to get it all done, and I fail to see the people in front of me as whole people. When I’m able to disrupt that pattern — take a breath, say a prayer or go for a walk — I find that the work gets easier, the solutions are more obvious, and people are happier. I have a tremendous respect for the people that I work with, and I feel grateful for their daily service to our mission. Staying aware of myself, grounded in gratitude and connected to God keeps us all moving in the right direction.
What does your job entail?
I serve on the global leadership team of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), as regional director for North America and as executive director of JRS/USA. I lead our efforts to mobilize support in the U.S. for JRS’s mission of accompanying, serving, and advocating for refugees and displaced people in 57 countries around the world. This includes programming, providing chaplains in five centers where people are being detained by the U.S. government, and providing legal and mental health/psychosocial support in El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in collaboration with JRS Mexico. JRS/USA is also launching a network of volunteers to support newcomers in cities across the U.S.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is the mission, and I have the honor of working with amazing refugees and staff around the world. The mission is a direct reflection of the Gospel call to care for the “least” among us and implement the Universal Apostolic Preference of walking with the excluded. The mission inspires me to carry out my work, as does working with remarkable refugees and colleagues around the world.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
JRS has allowed me to step up and play a leadership role in the global organization, and I have felt welcomed and respected. I have had the chance to have frank discussions with my Jesuit colleagues about how the Jesuits can even more effectively welcome and support the engagement of women in their mission and ministries. These kinds of discussions are essential and must lead to trainings and orientations for Jesuits and their female colleagues, as well as implementation of plans that will help the us collaborate effectively as the number of Jesuits diminishes while their mission and works are more important than ever.
Other Jesuit institutional connections:
What does your job entail?
My current position involves teaching, training and practicing restorative justice in all aspects of life, including in the criminal justice system, community/neighborhood environments and schools. I facilitate restorative justice dialogues between victims, their families and perpetrators in crimes of severe violence. I teach and train law students to use restorative processes in conflict resolution situations — particularly in working with disadvantaged populations. We are currently working on a training program for residence advisors at Marquette University and another program for police officers. We are putting on a conference involving Indigenous restorative practices from a variety of reservations.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I have done many things in my life — from being a lawyer, trial court judge and Supreme Court Justice, to now serving as a restorative justice advocate — but I believe my current work, particularly with victims of crimes and vulnerable people, is truly my vocational call. I experience God’s presence in the healing journeys I take with the people I serve — and in the opportunity to show future lawyers how they too can serve others by this work.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
The biggest challenge is that there’s a great need for facilitated dialogue and healing in all aspects of our culture, our communities and our families. So much work needs to be done.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
I have received such grace and direction from working in and with an Ignatian framework. Everything from personal spiritual direction, retreats and guidance have led me through tough decision-making and challenging points in my life. The shadows really involve the challenges of carrying on the mission and spirituality within a modern American university and our current American culture.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Most importantly, I experience — and encourage my students to experience — God in all that we encounter in our work. I am closest to my faith sitting in a maximum security prison with prisoners, victims, students and community members in a healing circle sharing stories of violence and healing.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
There continues to be a great need to be able to find ways to invite women leaders into environments in which they can experience the beauty and grace of Ignatian spirituality. I suggest that more focused retreats and offerings for rising leaders would be helpful.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
Proceed with empathy, kindness and care in your leadership. Have courage in your approaches and always listen with your heart before acting.
Other Jesuit institutional connections:
What does your job entail?
My role in both jobs is to animate and promote the interconnectedness of our local, regional and world community within the Jesuit Schools Network and throughout the global network of Jesuit schools. This includes the creation of programs and resources in collaboration with others as we accompany each other in the formation of an Ignatian network that is globally mindful, competent and active.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The formation of relationships with Ignatian educators and leaders from across the globe is my favorite part of both jobs. Deep and authentic collaboration with others is an ongoing gift and learning opportunity for me, and along the way we have had the honor of truly putting into practice an Ignatian way of proceeding.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
As my own formation and global relationships have grown over the years, Ignatian spirituality has taken root at the core of my approach to my work. To state it simply, I find myself paying attention to my projects, interactions, and daily tasks through the lens of whether my actions and approach are bringing me closer to God or moving me away from God. It really can be that simple when I take the needed moments to step back and review.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
The Jesuits and the church as a whole can better foster women’s leadership by carefully listening to women’s professional voices and contributions. With this awareness of the contributions, perspectives, capabilities and lived experiences that women bring to leadership, more opportunities can be made available to us. The greatest fear is the unknown; knowledge, companionship and open-hearted encounter with others is the best way forward.
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
What does your job entail?
Fighting fires, making thousands of friends, change management, vision and constant discernment.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
I grew up in a family of Jesuits and think of them all as my adopted, and particularly wise, uncles. Their insights into humanity and the purpose of life are my worldview. When I finally came into a Jesuit institution, it felt like coming home — and remembering a language I learned in childhood. The Jesuits I work with believe in me, pray for me and cheer me on, something that holds me up on particularly hard days.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
I use the principles of discernment every day, reminding myself to stop talking and listen, seek insights from unexpected places, balance data with the voices of real people. I try to engage in radical self-awareness through the Examen, to remember the ways my own biases get in the way of accurate perception. I try to lead with gratitude and build on people’s strengths rather than fret over their weaknesses.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
Welcoming women (and their half of the talent pool) into leadership can’t be passive, a matter of mere politeness. It requires learning about the range of obstacles still facing women — from the grueling experience of being constantly underestimated, to the shocking level of violence in the home against those who do not obey. Until our institutions move beyond denial, they will continue to squander the talent of women and be complicit in a great injustice.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
My mentor Lindy Boggs (former Congresswoman and ambassador to the Vatican) always told me, “You can get anything you want to do done, as long as you’re willing to give away the credit.”
Do you have any other Jesuit institutional connections?
What does your job entail?
I help to plan, assign and edit stories for America Magazine. I work mostly on feature stories and personal narratives, and I do some writing myself.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love working with the editors and staff of America. They are brilliant, kind, fun and hardworking. I also love that I often get to connect and speak with writers and sources from all different places and backgrounds, and it helps to remind me of the many ways the church and its believers exist in the world.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Because faith touches on every part of life, we can cover a huge variety of topics in the church and the world. I’m constantly being challenged to find “God in all things,” and we hope that our content also reflects that belief.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
“Have the courage to feel useless.
Have the courage to listen.
Have the courage to receive.
Have the courage to let your heart be broken.”
–Dean Brackley, SJ