2026 AJCU Deans' Meeting Schedule

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8th
PRE-CONFERENCE
11:30 a.m. Early Check-In - LOCATION: 4th floor DeNaples Center (DNC)

12:00 p.m. Lunch - LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A

1:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• FFACULTY ISSUES: 
  • MODERATOR/PRESENTER:  Jay Carter (St. Joseph's University, Dean)
  • PRESENTERS:  Heather Hathaway (Marquette University, Acting Dean) & Erin Winterrowd (Regis University, Dean)
  • LOCATION: 405 DeNaples Center (McDonnell Room)                                                                              
• ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: 
  • MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Jeff Dueck (St. Peter's University, Acting Dean)
  • PRESENTERS:  Richard Fox (Loyola Marymount University, Dean) & Bahram Roughani (Loyola University Maryland, Associate Dean)
  • LOCATION: 406 DeNaples Center

2:00 p.m. Break – LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A

2:15 p.m. Session: Discerning Next Steps Professionally 

• MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Richard Greenwald (Fairfield University, Dean)
• PRESENTERS: Jeff Paris (University of San Francisco,  Dean) & WeiDong Zhu (University of Scranton, Provost)
• LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIhenny Ballroom C

3:30 p.m. Return to Hotel (if desired)

4:45 p.m. Return to Campus

CONFERENCE BEGINS

5:00 p.m. Opening Reception – LOCATION: 5th Floor Brennan Hall -  Music provided by Scranton/Marywood Faculty known as the "Historic Hill Session"

6:00 p.m. Dinner – LOCATION: University of Scranton, 509 Brennan Hall, Rose Room

7:00 p.m. Reflections on the State of Jesuit Higher Education  - Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J., Superior of the Jesuit Community, University of Scranton; former President at Fordham University (2003-2022) and The University of Scranton (1998-2003)

8:00 p.m. Return to Hotel

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
8:15 a.m. Breakfast - LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A

8:45 a.m. Group Photo  - LOCATION: Dionne Green Amphitheater Steps (weather permitting)

9:00 a.m. PLENARY I: Leading Arts & Sciences in a time of Transformation: Career Readiness Initiatives for CAS Students
      •MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Donna LaVoie (Saint Louis University, Dean)
      •PRESENTERS: Stacy Tanichev (Gonzaga University, Associate Dean) & Travis Newton (LeMoyne College, Dean) 
      •LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B

10:15 a.m. Break – LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A

• PILLAR PROGRAM: (Faculty-Student partnership to improve faculty teaching)
  • MODERATORS/PRESENTERS:  Jennifer Whittaker, Occupational Therapy, University of Scranton &  Michael Hague, Biology, University of Scranton
  • LOCATION: 406 DeNaples Center

• STUDENT RETENTION INITIATIVES
  • MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Daniel Press (Santa Clara University, Dean)
  • PRESENTERS: Richard Fox (Loyola Marymount University, Dean) & Holly Ann Harris (Creighton University, Associate Dean)
  • LOCATION: 4th floor DeNaples Center Ballroom B

12:00 p.m. Lunch – LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A
NOTE: Select tables will be designated for the following specific topics:

• Administrative structures within CAS Dean’s Offices: carving out portfolios and succession planning
  • MODERATOR: Erin Winterrowd (Regis University, Dean)
• Senior capstones
• Artificial Intelligence implementation and governance
• First-Year Seminars
  • MODERATOR: Brian Gareau (Boston College, Senior Associate Dean)

1:00 p.m. PLENARY II: Leading Arts & Sciences in a Time of Constraint: Managing in Leaner Fiscal Times

• MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Catherine Campbell (John Carroll, University Dean)
• PRESENTERS:  Jeff Paris (University of San Francisco, Dean) & Leonard Kahn (Loyola New Orleans, Dean)
• LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIhenny Ballroom B

2:00 p.m. Break – LOCATION: 4th floor DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom A

2:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions about Leaner Fiscal Times:

• Data-Informed Decision-making: 
  • MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Daniel Marenda (University of Scranton, Associate Dean)
  • PRESENTERS:  Michael Goldman (University of San Francisco, Associate Dean) & Rebecca Murray (Creighton University, Associate Dean)
  • LOCATION: 4th floor DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B
• Advancement and Extramural Funding 
  • MODERATOR/PRESENTER: Carolyn Barry (University of Scranton, Dean)
  • PRESENTERS:  Richard Greenwald (Fairfield University, Dean) & Maria Bullon-Fernandez (Seattle University, Associate Dean)
  • LOCATION: 406 DeNaples Center

3:00 p.m. Break and Travel to Campus Explorations

NOTE: If you chose not to attend an exploration, you are welcome to remain in 406 DeNaples for Open Roundtable Ad-hoc Discussions.

3:15 p.m. Campus Explorations – please attend the option you indicted on your registration form:

• Tour of the Mansion and Heritage Room murals
• The IDEA Center
• Leahy Clinic for the Uninsured
• Campus Tour

4:10 p.m. PLENARY III - Mission: Jesuit Center Presentation and Examen

• MODERATOR: Carolyn Barry (University of Scranton, Dean)
• PRESENTER: Tim Dulle, Jr. (University of Scranton, Executive Director of the Jesuit Center)
• LOCATION: 4th floor, DeNaples Center McIlhenny Ballroom B

5:00 p.m. Return to the Hotel

6:00 p.m. Leave for AV Restaurant 

6:30 p.m. Happy Hour & Dinner: AV Restaurant, 320 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA

9:00 p.m. Return to the Hotel 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

9:00 a.m. Breakfast - LOCATION: Casey's Corner Room, Scranton Hilton Hotel
NOTE: 11 a.m. checkout (luggage may be stored at front desk or brought to breakfast)

9:45 a.m. Closing Reflection and Planning for the 2027 Meeting - LOCATION: Casey's Corner Room, Scranton Hilton Hotel

11:00 a.m. Conference Ends

If you are staying in the area, consider exploring Scranton and NEPA region on your own! Safe travels and THANK YOU for participating in the AJCU CAS Deans’ Network Meeting at the University of Scranton!

         We hope you enjoyed your time on our campus, in the Electric City and in Northeastern PA!

                                                       It was a pleasure to host all of you! 

Closer to the start of the event, a PDF of the full Network Meeting Schedule will be populated here for your convenience:

ACJU 2026 Network Meeting schedule