Jesuit Identity

Mission Examen

In 2023-2024, Saint Peter’s University concluded its second Mission Priority Examen process, co-chaired by Rev. Andrew Downing, S.J., Vice President for Mission and Ministry and Dr. Maryellen Hamilton, Professor of Psychology. They were helped by a representative group of faculty, staff and students that formed the Mission Examen Committee.

The Mission Examen process is mandated by the Superior General of the Jesuits, Very Rev. Arturo Sosa, S.J., at the request of the Holy See’s Congregation of Catholic Education. In a nutshell it seeks to determine if the Saint Peter’s University Community is interested in maintaining its Jesuit and Catholic identity in the future and how that identity can be bolstered. It involves a year-long process of examining the seven characteristics of Jesuit higher education (see the document below) by the Saint Peter’s University Community and culminates with a site visit by a team of Jesuits and lay colleagues of the UNE and Maryland Provinces of the Society of Jesus.

The first Mission Examen took place during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Executive Summary (PDF)
Seven Characteristics of Jesuit Higher Education (PDF)

University Members of the Examen Committee

Co-chairs

  • Rev. Andrew Downing, S.J., Vice President of Mission and Ministry
  • Dr. Maryellen Hamilton, Professor, Department of the Psychology

Faculty and Staff

  • Virginia Bender, Ph.D., Special Assistant to the President for Planning and Chief of Staff
  • Rebecca Conley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Director of Faculty Development
  • Rev. Joseph Constantino, S.J., Superior of the Jesuit Community and Trustee
  • Amarilys Crisostomo, undergraduate, Class of 2024
  • Devin Heyward, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Associate Professor of Sociology, Urban Studies, Anthropology, and Gender & Sexuality Studies
  • Christina Mortellaro, Ph.D., Chair and Assistant Professor of Biology, Director of Core Curriculum and Student Learning Outcome Assessment
  • Jan Reimer, M.Ed., Director, Office of Student Involvement
  • Lauren Squillante, Administrative Assistant, Honors, Philosophy & History
  • Stephanie Squires, Ph.D., Dean, Caulfield School of Education
  • WeiDong Zhu, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Physics

Members of the Visiting Team

  • Vincent D. Rougeau, J.D., President, College of the Holy Cross (Visiting Team Chair)
  • Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., Vice President for Mission and Ministry, University of Scranton
  • Maura Mast, Ph.D., Dean, Fordham College at Rose Hill
  • Douglas Woods, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies and Dean of the Graduate School, Marquette University