Laudato Sí’ / Citizenship & Democracy
Jesuit Prison Education / Student Spiritual Growth & Mental Health / Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm
Commission Abstract: Enslavement and oppression of those from Black and native American/indigenous backgrounds are only a foundational part of anti-Blackness, anti-Brownness, bias, stereotypes, and other forms of marginalization. Those who attend this session will:
- Learn context through a descriptive timeline of enslavement and its aftermath at Jesuit institutions;
- Understand the process of grappling with the history of slavery and other types of oppression and exclusion at the institutional level;
- Interrogate what traditions, cultures, and mores at our institutions challenge the creation of a sense of belonging and inclusion for members of our communities that have been historically denied access to higher education;
- Engage with others on the very challenging topics of enslavement and oppression in the history and present of Jesuit institutions.
Co-Chair: Rochelle D. Smith, M.S. serves as the Vice President of the Division for Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement (DICE) at Saint Louis University. With over 24 years of experience, Smith has demonstrated visionary leadership and a data-driven approach to tackling institutional challenges. Holding a Master of Science degree in health behavior research and certification in executive leadership, she has spearheaded transformative initiatives at institutions like Yale School of Medicine and Washington University in Saint Louis. She is particularly known for creating novel programming for those from historically underrepresented backgrounds who want to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Co-Chair: Dr. Andria Wisler serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching & Service at Georgetown University, where she is a teaching professor of Justice & Peace Studies. Andria is pursuing a certificate in Jesuit Studies from Boston College, is an honorary member of Alpha Sigma Nu, and a member of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) Task Force on Peace and Reconciliation. Andria serves on the boards of the Cornelia Connelly Center in New York City, a Nativity-Miguel school where she first taught through a post-graduate service program, and YouthBuild Public Charter School and Girls Global Academy, both in Washington, D.C.
Commission Members
- Charlene Brown-McKenzie, Director, Center for Multicultural Equity and Access; Executive Director, Institute for College Preparation, Georgetown University
- Patrick Cousins, Director of Pastoral Formation, Division for Mission and Identity, Saint Louis University
- Rev. David Suwalsky, S.J., Vice President, Mission and Identity, Saint Louis University
- Emelyn dela Peña, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Loyola Marymount University
- Katrina Moore, Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion, College of Arts and Sciences; Associate Professor, History and African & African American Studies, Saint Louis University
- Andrew Prevot, Joseph and Winifred Amaturo Chair in Catholic Studies; Senior Fellow, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, Georgetown University
- Adam Rothman, Director of the Center for the History of Slavery and its Legacies; Professor of History, Georgetown University
- Allison Brewer, Assistant Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Division for Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement, Saint Louis University
- Bobby Wassel, Director, Center for Social Action, Saint Louis University
- Phoebe Cook, Executive Assistant, Division for Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement, Saint Louis University
Commission Materials (click on titles to download PDF files)