Mercy, the Principal Path: Conference for Mercy Higher Education (CMHE) Biennial Program

Eighty-two presidents, trustees, and other senior leaders from fifteen Mercy colleges and universities gathered in Baltimore, Maryland on October 2-3, 2016 for the mission leadership program, Mercy, the Principal Path.

Front row L-r: Dr. Jane Gerety rsm, President of Salve Regina University, RI, Dr. Scott Zeman, Provost at Salve Regina University, Dr. Mary Fanning rsm, Chair of the CMHE Board of Directors, and Chris Koren, Executive Director for Mission and Community Outreach, Mount Aloysius College, PA.

Offered by the Conference for Mercy Higher Education, this biennial program seeks to promote and deepen understanding of the Catholic, Mercy identity and mission among presidents, trustees, and senior leaders at Mercy colleges and universities across the United States.

Sister Pat McDermott spoke first on the agenda and explored why the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas wish to continue their sponsorship of Mercy colleges and universities; Sister Pat situated this wish within a description of sponsorship as pledge, commitment and assurance.

Additional presentations included: a talk focused on the challenges of leadership in Catholic higher education and the importance of inviting students to explore issues related to faith and belief; an invitation to self-care and Mercy and the importance of tending to one’s own spiritual needs in the work of Mercy; reflections on best practices for boards, sessions on mission formation for boards and the integration of mission within the curriculum, and a closing talk inviting participants to consider their roles in Catholic colleges and universities as a call to ministerial leadership.

The program agenda full list of speakers may be found here.  Three key talks offered during the program are currently on the site with others to follow.

Messages to: Dr. Moya K. Dittmeier - Executive Director CMHE

Image: Front Row. L-r: Dr. Jane Gerety rsm, President of Salve Regina University, RI, Dr. Scott Zeman, Provost at Salve Regina University, Dr. Mary Fanning rsm, Chair of the CMHE Board of Directors, and Chris Koren, Executive Director for Mission and Community Outreach, Mount Aloysius College, PA.