RADNOR, Pa. (Sept. 2, 2010) — Twenty-two Cabrini College faculty members deepened their understanding of the College’s mission and global issues of social justice during a two-day educational development program last month. Participants in the seminar ranged from the college's most senior professor, Dr. Joseph Romano, to the newest, Christina Fink.
The faculty members volunteered to travel Baltimore and Washington, D.C. for the private seminar. Three organizations noted for leadership on issues of peace and justice—Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Network, and the Center of Concern—assisted faculty in their teaching and research within the College’s core curriculum, Justice Matters.
Cabrini faculty worked with CRS staff members, including Vice President Michael Wiest, to discuss peace building, integral human development, and other humanitarian issues. In 2005, Cabrini was the first college to sign an agreement with CRS; in April, the two organizations marked the five-year anniversary by renewing the partnership.
The faculty also met with Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of the Catholic social justice lobby Network, to discuss a key element of the college curriculum—the importance of research into public policy, leading to advocacy for systemic change.
Finally, at the Center of Concern in Washington, faculty received updates on some of the Center's focuses of research, such as the global women's project and economic justice. The Rev. James Hug, S.J., Ph.D., and Sister Maria Reilly, Ph.D., briefed the faculty on the latest studies conducted by the center.
As a result of these two days, Cabrini College faculty can now ground their courses even more effectively in Catholic Social Teaching, or the rich body of thinking about challenging social issues such as economic justice, the environment, peace, disarmament, and the dignity of the human person.
"It was truly a blessing to have learn so much from CRS, Network and the Center of Concern,” said Dr. Anne Skleder, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Cabrini. “I feel so energized and renewed as we start the academic year full of possibilities and opportunities for partnership and impact."
In attendance were Dr. Adeline Bethany; Dr. Beverly Bryde; David Chiles; Dr. John Cordes; Dr. David Dunbar; Christina Fink; Sister Arlene Flaherty; Raquel Green; Dr. Jeff Gingerich; Dr. Maya Gordon; Laura Groves; Dr. Mary Harris; Dr. Marilyn Johnson; Dr. Darryl Mace; Dr. Nick Rademacher; Dr. Joseph Romano; Dr. Anne Skleder; Dr. Melissa Terlecki; Nancy Watterson; Dr. Janice Xu; Cathy Yungmann; and Dr. Jerry Zurek.