At a four-day event that began on July 9, the University of Deusto (located in Bilbao, Spain) hosted the
Foundational Assembly of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU). Nearly 300 people from Jesuit institutions around the world attended this groundbreaking event, chaired by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Father Arturo Sosa, S.J.
Following the event, Secretary of Higher Education Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. noted that "Hats go off to Le Moyne as the most influential (American) university" at the assembly.
This video that debuted there prominently features Le Moyne.
The purpose of the meeting was to announce the official founding of the IAJU, an international organization whose membership is comprised of the 187 Jesuit institutions located on six continents. The slogan for the gathering was “Transforming Our World Together” and those in attendance began to explore the most pressing priorities in their institutions. High profile speakers at the event included Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, Pankaj Mishra and Gaël Giraud SJ. The participants discussed the resolutions for the new IAJU Board and areas for collaboration. There was also iconic moments like signing the agreement for the new IAJU network at the Loyola Sanctuary, the cradle of the Jesuits.
Le Moyne's involvement in the conference and in helping to facilitate the assembly was significant. Attending as official representatives of the College were Provost Joe Marina, S.J. and President Linda LeMura. Dr. LeMura also participated in leading a panel discussion on income inequality and how Jesuit institutions can make an impact on this issue; the panel followed a presentation by Father Giraud, who is the chief economist and executive director of the Research and Knowledge Directorate of the Agence Française de Développement.
Also in attendance was David McCallum, S.J., Le Moyne's vice president of mission and identity, who was appointed to guide an international task force responsible for drafting a position paper on "Ignatian formation for leadership in Jesuit Higher Education." This effort involved representatives from Jesuit institutions in Mexico, the Ivory Coast, Germany, Indonesia, India and the U.S.
Shown in photo, from left, are Father Marina, Father McCallum, Superior General Sosa, and President LeMura.
Beyond participation at the event, the College also provided important behind-the-scenes support that was vital to making the assembly a reality. This effort was led by Tracy Couto from the Madden School, as she oversaw the arduous task of requirements gathering, design and development of the new IAJU website that will be unveiled at the assembly, and Le Moyne was selected to host the site as well. Also working on this project were Shaun Black from information technology, and Nicole Brown and Judy Frank from finance. Using the "IgnitEd" technology infrastructure that was developed and is being used for the Global Jesuit Case Series website, the team was involved in a number of activities that made the assembly possible, including event registration for all attendees, providing approximately 100 visa letters and assisting with the financial and technological expertise to process refunds, wire transfers and payments from far-flung areas of the world. All this was done in the six weeks leading up to the assembly.
"I am immensely proud of the work that was done to make this assembly possible by all those involved from Le Moyne," said President LeMura. "I am also honored to be a witness, along with Father Marina and Father McCallum, to this historic occasion, which will make an indelible and lasting impact on Jesuit education worldwide."