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Scranton Hosts National Conference on Church-Related Colleges

The 23rd annual National Conference of the Lilly Fellows Program (LFP) in Humanities and the Arts took place at the University Oct. 18–20, 2013. The theme of this year’s conference was “Faith and Academic Freedom in Civic Virtue.”

Lilly Fellow Program in Humanities and the Arts, 23rd Annual National Conference Committee and Plenary Speakers, from left: Gretchen J. Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of Political Science at Scranton, conference host and committee chair; Patricia McGuire, J.D., president, Trinity Washington University, Lilly plenary speaker; Stephen E. Whittaker, Ph.D., professor of English & Theatre at Scranton; Joe Creech, program director, Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts; Harold W. Baillie, Ph.D., provost/senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Scranton; Cyrus P. Olsen, D.Phil., associate professor of Theology/Religious Studies at Scranton; Rob Kapilow H’09, composer, educator, author, conductor, pianist, Lilly plenary speaker; Mark Ravizza, S.J., Ph.D., director of Mission & Ministry at the Casa Bayanihan, Manila, Philippines, Lilly plenary speaker; Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., president, The University of Scranton.
Lilly Fellow Program in Humanities and the Arts, 23rd Annual National Conference Committee and Plenary Speakers, from left: Gretchen J. Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of Political Science at Scranton, conference host and committee chair; Patricia McGuire, J.D., president, Trinity Washington University, Lilly plenary speaker; Stephen E. Whittaker, Ph.D., professor of English & Theatre at Scranton; Joe Creech, program director, Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts; Harold W. Baillie, Ph.D., provost/senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Scranton; Cyrus P. Olsen, D.Phil., associate professor of Theology/Religious Studies at Scranton; Rob Kapilow H’09, composer, educator, author, conductor, pianist, Lilly plenary speaker; Mark Ravizza, S.J., Ph.D., director of Mission & Ministry at the Casa Bayanihan, Manila, Philippines, Lilly plenary speaker; Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., president, The University of Scranton.

The 23rd annual National Conference of the Lilly Fellows Program (LFP) in Humanities and the Arts took place at the University Oct. 18–20, 2013. The theme of this year’s conference was “Faith and Academic Freedom in Civic Virtue.”

The University is one of approximately 100 member schools of the Lilly Fellows National Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities, the mission of which is to “renew and enhance the connections between Christianity and the academic vocation at church-related colleges and universities,” according to the organization’s website. The Lilly Fellows Program is based at Christ College, the interdisciplinary honors college of Valparaiso University in Northwest Indiana.

“As host of this year’s national conference, the University provided a forum for dialogue about how we as individuals and institutions bring the values of faith and academic freedom to the service of civic virtue,” said Conference Chair Gretchen Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at Scranton and member of the LFP’s National Network Board. “As universities with faith missions our collective commitment to civic engagement arises directly from our devotion to open conversation, ecumenism and the search for truth.”

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Three featured plenary speakers at the conference represented three distinct narratives to ignite thought and dialogue about ways individuals and faith-based institutions can bring the values of faith and academic freedom to the service of civic virtue: Mark Ravizza, S.J., associate professor of philosophy and senior fellow at the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Calif.; Patricia McGuire, J.D., president of Trinity Washington University, Washington, D.C.; and Robert Kapilow H’09, internationally renowned composer, commentator, author and conductor.

The conference also included an “Evening of Jazz” beginning with a pre-concert presentation by Grammy Award-winning writer, acclaimed musician and jazz historian Loren Schoenberg.

Prior to the conference, the University hosted the LFP’s 14th annual Workshop for Senior Administrators on Oct. 17-18.

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