Date of Award

2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

School of Education

First Advisor

Norma López

Abstract

Since the year 2000, over the course of the past quarter century, lay presidents went from being an emerging phenomenon to becoming the majority of presidents in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU). Lay presidents are now the norm and no longer the exception, as 24 of the 28 institutions of the AJCU are now lay led. This qualitative research study intended to explore how lay presidents of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) in the United States who have been at their current institution for at least three years, came to learn about Jesuit mission and identity in Jesuit higher education, how they articulate Jesuit mission and identity in higher education, and how that articulation is expressed or informs their mission and identity work as university presidents. The questions in the semi-structured interviews looked at pathways to Jesuit higher education, training in Jesuit mission and identity in the context of higher education, articulation of Jesuit mission and identity, and, to a lesser degree, also touched on personal connections, mentorship, and collaboration. Participants highlighted the importance of leading on mission authentically, emphasized that the mission of Jesuit higher education entails an engagement with the world that meets the moment, and revealed that they learn about Jesuit mission and identity together as a lay Catholic community of practitioners. There is a great sense of collegiality among the lay presidents who know and care for one another and are invested in the success of the institutions that make up the AJCU. These presidents view their role as leaders carrying forward the Jesuit tradition of higher education as more than merely a job, but also as their vocations. They are both personally and professionally invested in their work and in particular with the process of mission transmission. The presidents understand that their important task entails ongoing formation and a desire to continue learning more about Jesuit higher education.

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