St. John’s University recently hosted the annual conference of the Association of Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU) for the first time. The event, which took place from June 24 to June 27, brought together over 130 student affairs administrators from various Catholic institutions across the country.

The conference aimed to provide a platform for attendees to renew their professional and spiritual commitments while sharing knowledge and strengthening their institution's Catholic identity. Adam Casler, Interim Vice President of Student Life at Siena College, remarked on the significance of networking opportunities provided by the conference: “It is a wonderful opportunity to network, but it is more than that...Being here reminds us that while each school might differ some in charism, our values are shared.”

Established in 1999, ASACCU focuses on enhancing student development at Catholic colleges and universities. Its annual gathering draws representatives from about three dozen institutions who engage in discussions with higher-education thought leaders and participate in small-group sessions.

Keynote speaker Mary Dana Hinton, Ph.D., President of Hollins University, addressed challenges faced by university administrators during her discussion on June 25. She emphasized mission-driven leadership amid issues like campus polarization and staffing shortages: “Now, more than ever, we are called to summon up new aspects of leadership,” Dr. Hinton said.

A panel discussion led by Rev. Aidan Rooney featured insights from André McKenzie, Monica Burnette, and Elizabeth Ortiz on maintaining mission integrity and fostering student success within Catholic higher education. Dr. Ortiz highlighted the importance of providing hope to students during challenging times.

The conference opened with a lecture by Peter K. Fay from Villanova University who spoke about common values in Catholic higher education: “The goal of Catholic higher education is to help students flourish and become the people God calls them to become,” he stated.

Attendees participated in daily Mass at St. Thomas More Church followed by various social activities around New York City such as Broadway shows and dinner cruises.

Networking opportunities also extended to interactions with sponsors like GivePulse—a digital platform aiding service events—whose founder George Luc noted: “Catholic colleges and universities are quite service-minded...Together we can engage in community opportunities that positively impact society.”