GSE Conference to Focus on Catholic School-Higher Ed Partnerships

Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education (GSE) will co-sponsor a conference to explore how Catholic educators at all levels can collaborate and leverage resources to create better schools.

“Catholic Schools as Schools of Academic Excellence: How Can Catholic Higher Education Help?” is co-sponsored with Boston College’s Lynch School of Education from Sunday, Sept. 26 to Tuesday, Sept. 28. The event will take place at Boston College.

“This is an opportunity for K-12 and higher-education Catholic educators across the country to come together to discuss how Catholic schools are maintaining their strong scholastic tradition and demonstrating academic excellence,” said James Hennessy, Ph.D., dean of GSE.

“It’s also a way to explore ways in which we can strengthen our schools to improve the academic experiences of students,” he said. “The Graduate School of Education is very pleased to be able to co-sponsor the event in order to provide this opportunity, which coincides with our mission and the goals of the University."

Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, and William P. Leahy, S.J., president of Boston College, will discuss creating and sustaining successful school-university partnerships focused on the Catholic intellectual tradition on the second day of the conference.

Mark S. Massa, S.J., dean of the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, will give a keynote address on the opening day. His talk will center on the culture of Catholic education and expectations for academic excellence in all Catholic education institutions.

Hennessy will participate in the conference with Gerald M. Cattaro, Ph.D., director of the Center for Catholic Leadership and Faith-Based Education at GSE, and Joseph M. O’Keefe, S.J., dean of the Lynch School.

—Gina Vergel