The 2022 SCS Dean’s Report, which covers Academic Year 2021-2022, is the focus of this week’s Mission in Motion. The report tells a deeper story about how the School uniquely manifested Georgetown and Jesuit values throughout the year.
Each year, the SCS Dean’s Report offers a meaningful review of the School’s most significant work during the Academic Year and its vision for the year ahead. I like to think of this annual exercise as an Examen of sorts, given the document’s reflective spirit and the wide variety of student, staff, faculty, and alumni perspectives that give the report its life. In addition to individual articles authored by a breadth of voices, the report uses facts and figures to present a holistic snapshot on the state of SCS.
The framing of each report is instructive because it communicates to its readers something important about how the School lived out its prior year of work. This year’s document, “Forging Ahead,” tells the story in a series of reflections about how SCS returned from the pandemic to both pre-existing, pre-pandemic habits and to new ways of teaching, learning, and working together. As Dean Otter offers in her opening reflection, the balance of old and new ways of proceeding are reflected in the unique ways that SCS inspirits Georgetown and Jesuit values in its work: “The Dean’s Report is only a snapshot of achievements across our varied portfolio, and the diverse stories herein capture our community’s perseverance, and also our profound commitment to enacting our Georgetown and Jesuit values.” The document then provides multiple concrete examples of how SCS has put the mission into motion during Academic Year 2021-2022.
Many of the highlighted examples of work should be familiar to readers of this SCS Mission in Motion blog. For example, Miranda Mahmud, Manager of Communications, tells the story of Summer High School Programs returning to the Hilltop. You can read this past Mission in Motion post to learn more about the deeply mission-aligned Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP). Dr. Sherry Steeley, Associate Teaching Professor, goes into depth about the collaboration between the SCS English Language Center and Georgetown’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security that provided direct English language and professional development support to Afghan refugees (the blog shared more about this partnership in a post: “Serving a Community in Dispersion: Reflections on Sharing English Language Learning with Afghan Refugees”). And I authored a piece about how SCS celebrated the Ignatian Year 500 through a set of dedicated activities covered by Mission in Motion throughout 2021 and 2022. The article explores the special events, retreats, and experiential pilgrimages that characterized Georgetown’s embrace of its Ignatian heritage in this milestone year of celebration.
The annual publication of the SCS Dean’s Report is more than a static document about a point in time. The words that comprise this document, a project undertaken by a dedicated team of SCS staff, are living testimony to the School’s enduring commitment to Georgetown and Jesuit values. I hope you will take a closer look at this year’s report and reflect from your unique position in the SCS community about how you have forged ahead over the last year of life and work.
Mission in Motion has spent over a year shining a light on the significance of the Ignatian Year, the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, undergoing his personal transformation that eventually led to the birth of a new religious order and a global network of schools, like Georgetown. A recent post describes a series of pilgrimage immersions in Spain that took place this summer for students, faculty, staff, and alumni who desired an even deeper engagement with the meaningfulness of St. Ignatius’ own sacred story and its relevance today.
This week, we hear directly from SCS alumna Karim Trueblood, who participated in Georgetown’s alumni pilgrimage to Spain. Mission in Motion has previously interviewed Karim about her reflections on Georgetown SCS, the relationship between Ignatian principles and her professional life, and how the Jesuit Values she experienced as a student in the Master of Professional Studies in Emergency & Disaster Management (EDM) program have shaped her vocation.
Having taught Karim in the SCS Jesuit Values in Professional Practice course, I can personally attest to how much she has appropriated the principles and characteristics of Jesuit education and spirituality in her life. It is fair to say that Karim’s life has been transformed by her Ignatian experiences, so much so that she is currently pursuing a doctorate in these topics. What I find so important about Karim’s reflection below is the way that she interprets the Ignatian holy sites in a way that respects both religious diversity and the integrity of the Jesuit tradition.
In this week’s Mission in Motion, SCS alumna Karim Trueblood (pictured second row, middle) reflects on her time in Spain as part of an Ignatian Year pilgrimage with Georgetown alumni. Credit: Javi Valdivieso
As part of the celebration of the Ignatian Year, I recently participated in a Shrines of Spain Pilgrimage following the Footsteps of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. This pilgrimage for Georgetown alums was guided by Jesuits Fr. Mark Bosco and Fr. Jerry Hayes. The trip took us to Spain, starting in Madrid and finishing in Barcelona while visiting influential places in the life of Saint Ignatius along the way. The meticulously curated itinerary provided an array of magnificent thought-provoking stops, delightful people, and delicious food.
To be transparent about my experience, this was my first time traveling with a group, and to say that I was hesitant is an understatement. Additionally, in our home we share our faith between Catholicism and Quakerism. I have found that the Society of Jesus and the Society of Friends share similar values and were eager to start the journey. I started this journey with 20 strangers and many questions and ended the journey with 20 friends and even more questions.
It was only after returning home, intentionally reflecting on the pilgrimage and reviewing my notes, that I understood the significance of this unique opportunity. In retrospect, this was a journey to deepen my relationship with God, myself, my husband, fellow pilgrims, and locals that graciously shared their country, customs, and history. Part of my commitment to increase awareness required me to limit the use of technology, so pictures are limited, but there are enough notes and journal entries to write a book.
In addition to deepening my relationship with God and others, I found the experience was closely related to the Jesuit values guiding Georgetown University. It was an opportunity for community building and to practice intentionality regardless of religious background. The visits to sites like the Loyola Castle, Saint Ignatius’ place of birth, or Pamplona, where Saint Ignatius was injured in battle leading to his spiritual conversion, were perfect for engaging our minds and hearts in imagination and contemplation.
Montserrat, pictured here, is a sacred place in the life of St. Ignatius. Credit: Javi Valdivieso
The visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu, nestled in nature and visited by Saint Ignatius on his way to Manresa, evoked tranquility while highlighting the importance of Caring for Our Common Home. It was important for the Franciscans there that people felt the impact of nature while in the basilica. From my perspective, the feeling of being connected with nature was undeniable, perhaps one of my favorite places during the pilgrimage. The visit also prompted questions about my role in advancing or hindering environmental justice due to everyday decisions.
The visit to Montserrat was spectacular and provided the perfect preamble to Manresa. In the Cove of Saint Ignatius in Manresa, where Saint Ignatius wrote the Spiritual Exercises, I found a deeper understanding of the value of learning directly from these places that inspired Saint Ignatius, how a life in disorder and spiritual desolation was crucial to engaging in deep reflection to seek to conquer the self and discern our purpose.
The pilgrimage was not strictly about religion, but thinking about religion allowed me to reflect on the impact religion has on culture and individuals. The pilgrimage reminded me of the importance of community and how flawed individuals searching for unique answers can come together and become grounded in love. This opportunity was only possible because of Georgetown. I was reminded of the value of discovery and transformation.
In order to grow, it is imperative to experience new things, engage with different people, and visit new places. Georgetown University is a place with unlimited opportunities to engage in discovery and transformation. Seek more in the spirit of Magis and for the Greater Glory of God regardless of career path or religious background; you might surprise yourself, just like I continue to do even after graduation.
This week’s post describes the Jesuit reflection sessions experienced by the 2022 cohort of the Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP). This was the first in-person version of the reflection instruction offered since the pandemic began.
In his book, An Ocean of Light: Contemplation, Transformation, and Liberation, contemplative and academic Martin Laird makes the case for contemplative practices. To advance his argument early in the book, Laird brings together two unlikely thought partners: the post-modernist author David Foster Wallace and the contemporary Christian mystic Thomas Merton.
“Composed over fifty years ago, ‘Contemplation in a World of Action’ remains one of Merton’s most important essays. Wallace acknowledges our need to have sufficient skills of interiority in order to become aware of our own self-centered patterns of thinking and behaving. He likewise realizes that we can actually choose what we give our attention to. In choosing to give our attention to something other than the monologues going on in our heads, we meet the possibility of becoming less self-centered and more compassionate people. Merton would have no problem with Wallace on this point, but Merton would say that we have to go yet deeper – journey much deeper into our own uncharted lands.”
Over the last three weeks, students in Georgetown’s Summer College Immersion Program (previously discussed by Mission in Motionhere, here, and here) have had the opportunity to develop the skills of interiority through four reflection sessions that I’ve led. The purpose of these four sessions is to introduce the rising high school seniors, who come to Georgetown for three intensive weeks from KIPP, Cristo Rey, and other similar schools around the country, to the critical importance of developing habits of self-reflection. While four sessions are not enough to go as deep as our “uncharted lands” as Merton would prefer, there is no doubt that students leave the experience with a clearer impression that Georgetown strives to live out its commitment to educating the whole person by embodying contemplation in action.
The sessions are structured as a movement in four stages. The first session is a broad introduction to the mission and values of Georgetown with a special emphasis on the University’s interreligious character and principle of inclusive spiritual life. Students learn early about the Examen of Consciousness, a uniquely Jesuit approach to reflecting on daily experience.
The second session explores different strands in the historical development of spiritual practice. Students learn about different ways of praying and meditating, appreciating the distinction between image-less models (called apophatic) of prayer and models that rely on concepts, ideas, and texts (called kataphatic). These ideas are applied through a practice of silent meditation that resembles the tradition of Centering Prayer.
Session three introduces the Jesuit concept of discernment and demonstrates its inherent practicality and applicability to personal and professional life. Students learn about what ingredients are necessary for an authentic discernment and are invited to begin considering their own discernments. With the college decision process animating their lives, the SCIP students especially appreciate this opportunity to further reflect on what they are deeply seeking from the college admissions process.
And finally, the fourth session brings the reflection sessions to a close with a focused look at the Ignatian decision-making framework. Students have the opportunity to listen to each other and share advice about how to approach their biggest decisions in the coming year. Almost everyone raises similar questions about the college search process. During the mock interview process at the end of the final week in which the students are paired with Georgetown staff and faculty acting as interviewers, I had the opportunity to ask students to share more about their desires and goals for their college search. I could tell in these interviews that the techniques of Jesuit discernment introduced in the reflection sessions had begun to take hold.
The SCIP program is truly one of the most mission-aligned efforts led by Georgetown SCS. The opportunity to introduce such promising young people to the invitational and inclusive style of Jesuit reflection practiced at Georgetown is a joy. In a way that would likely satisfy Laird, Merton, and Wallace, students learn firsthand how to practice inner reflection in a way that encourages them to be even more generous and other-centered in a noisy world.
A screenshot of the Instagram account of Georgetown’s Campus Ministry. You can follow along a series of Magis Immersion pilgrimages to Ignatian Spain, involving students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
“The time has come to set out for sacred ground … that will stir our sense of wonder. It is down the path to the deeply real where time stops and we are seized by the mysteries. This is the journey that we cannot Not take. The old hermit along the side of the road whispers, Stranger, Pass by that which you do not love.” ― Phil Cousineau, The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred
The Ignatian Year officially ends on July 31, 2022, on the Feast Day of St. Ignatius. Georgetown has celebrated this 500-year anniversary in many ways throughout the last 12 months, including a Storytelling event in the fall semester and a Sacred Lecture in the spring. A University committee came together and, among other things, created a universally appealing bookmark intended to spur discussion, reflection, and action about the Ignatian Year across the campuses.
And as the Ignatian Year officially comes to a close, Georgetown has embarked on a series of pilgrimage trips to the Ignatian holy sites in Spain during the months of June and July. Separate experiences for students, faculty and staff, and alumni are offering participants a direct opportunity to explore together the sacred sites of the Jesuits’ founder.
Pilgrimage is an appropriate way to bring this year to an end. For St. Ignatius, all of the spiritual life is essentially a pilgrimage. Ignatius’ own autobiography is described as a “pilgrim’s journey” and details how he literally traveled much of the world and figuratively traveled in his own soul in order to discover the ultimate, authentic purpose of his life. Andria Wisler, Executive Director of Georgetown’s Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service, is fond of sharing Cousineau’s quote above at the beginning of Magis Immersion Trips (like this one to the U.S.-Mexico Border). There is a strong link between Cousineau’s images of the pilgrimage as an of real holy ground that stirs wonder and the Ignatian notion of Finding God in All Things.
For St. Ignatius, no experience is too mundane to potentially become an encounter with the Divine. By paying attention to the details of our outward and inward journeys, whether they be the magnificent Spanish sites of Ignatius’ life or our own daily commutes, we can enter into deeper communion with the transcendent mystery of our lives. It is through this daily pilgrimage, and the discernment that it entails, that we travel closer and closer to our ultimate destination and purpose.
In the coming weeks, Mission in Motion will share more about Georgetown SCS’s participation in the Ignatian pilgrimages to Spain.
This week’s Mission in Motion reflects on a recent podcast by Georgetown’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. Listen to the podcast.
Of the many deeply mission-aligned programs at SCS, the Institute for Transformational Leadership (ITL) is one of the most obvious. Mission in Motionhas previously reflected on the deep connections between Georgetown’s mission and values and the work of ITL. Recently, ITL, through its podcast, hosted an important discussion about the relationship between body intelligence and transformational leadership. ITL academic director Bill Pullen interviewed Marcia Feola, a master certified coach and faculty member in ITL.
What resonated strongly is an opportunity in the conversation to make more explicit the relationship between leadership coaching and a diversity of religious and spiritual wisdom teachings about the body. Bill and Marcia use the language of “whole person” to describe an approach to embodied leadership development, which links up nicely with the commitment in the Spirit of Georgetown to “Educating the Whole Person.” This value encourages all of our endeavors at Georgetown SCS to integrate the holistic development of the human person’s many facets – intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual – in the learning experience.
The podcast helped me appreciate how much good leaders need to attend to knowledge of their own bodies in the work of exercising transformational leadership with and for others. It is common to speak of the need for emotional intelligence, a reflective self-awareness of how affective sensations influence one’s thoughts and behavior. But body intelligence is no less important. And this focus on the body is manifested in different religious and spiritual traditions.
Ignatian spirituality, which gives rise to the Spirit of Georgetown, emphasizes the body as a location for encountering God. St. Ignatius of Loyola, in the Spiritual Exercises, invites the retreatant to experience the mystery and love of the Divine by encountering God in one’s own body and in the body of Christ. God’s desire to be in relationship with human beings does not occur in the abstract but through the fleshy, incarnational reality of the human body. The Australian Jesuits offer further insights about this connection between the body and the Spiritual Exercises in this piece: “Ignatian Spirituality and the Wisdom of the Body.”
Other faith traditions also speak to the central importance of the body in the quest for spiritual insight and knowledge. The Jewish tradition describes the need for healthy living with particular emphasis on caring for the body. So many of the teachings and laws of the Hebrew Bible focus on care for the physical self. The Islamic tradition similarly draws attention to this connection between a sound body and a healthy spiritual life. For Muslims, the human body is a gift from God and humans are responsible for being good stewards of this gift.
Practicing care for the body happens in many ways. A mindfulness meditation practice, like the one offered in the SCS Daily Digital Meditations (sign up here), typically begins with a body scan exercise that relaxes the body and makes one more present and aware of their physical sensations. The body communicates its status with all sorts of sensations, but making sense of these signals requires paying mindful attention to them. Reflective awareness of our emotions, another key feature of mindful meditation, depends on our achieving some sort of grounded centeredness in our physical bodies. In these SCS mindfulness meditations, one enters into greater emotional awareness through conscious breathing exercises. The body, the mind, and the spirit all co-exist in an interdependent and interrelated relationship.
I encourage you to listen to the ITL podcast on body intelligence and reflect on how you might grow in deeper awareness of how your body affects – in both positive and negative ways – how you lead in the world.
Last week’s post was dedicated to spiritual and self-development resources, namely an examen meditation inspired by the Jesuit tradition, that one might try out during the summer months when life and work tend to be slower for many people. But summer is actually a very busy season for others, including the dedicated team of staff and faculty that run Georgetown SCS’s Summer Sessions and Summer High School programs. Mission in Motion sat down with Caitlin Cochran, who oversees the SCS summer team, to discuss the mission commitment of the summer programs, the opportunities and challenges of this work, and personal reflections on her time at the University. An alumna of Georgetown College with years of service at the University, Caitlin is also nearing the completion of a doctoral program in education focused on leadership and learning in organizations.
This week’s Mission in Motion post is an interview with Caitlin Cochran, SCS Associate Dean, Summer and Special Programs. She reflects on the mission significance of Georgetown’s diverse summer offerings and provides some insights about the status of higher education.
1. You’ve been a member of the Georgetown community for some time, beginning as an undergraduate student and now years later serving as the SCS Associate Dean for Summer and Special Programs. Can you share some reflections about your Georgetown experience and what stands out to you during your journey at the University?
It has been a long journey, and so many things stand out. GU is just a really special place, and so is SCS. I actually chose Georgetown for college because I wanted to get far away from my hometown, but I struggled to fit in and find a place. The term “imposter syndrome” was not really used much then, but I definitely felt like I didn’t belong. I worked 30+ hours a week, actually for SCS, but it was called SSCE then (School for Summer and Continuing Education), plus I was a student-athlete and had to be enrolled full-time every semester. So I didn’t have a lot of free time to make friends or try things out like other students, and I really let that get to me. But one of the best things about Georgetown is that while you are here, you meet people who change you for the better.
I’ve been here a long time, so that list of people is pretty long for me and includes faculty, coaches, teammates, co-workers, and, of course, my former deans. I actually don’t think I would have finished my degree here if it wasn’t for my advising deans in the College. I remember talking to Dean Cloke after class one day because I wanted to take a leave of absence my junior year. I was tired, anxious, depressed, burnt out, and for some inexplicable reason I registered for Mathematical Modeling which basically sealed the deal on my self-doubt and made me wonder why I was even here. After reassuring me that I did not need to be a mathematician, Dean Cloke said to me, “It doesn’t matter how you got here. What matters is what you do with the opportunity you have.” I don’t know why that made all the difference, but it did. Maybe it’s because I needed the reassurance that indeed I was not a unique failure in the system and I was not the first (or last) student to struggle. When I think back on that conversation, I can still feel a sense of relief and freedom at a renewed understanding of the word “opportunity.”
My education here was never anything I took for granted, yet I almost gave it up in a blur of stress and loneliness. What has driven me since then is finding ways to provide opportunities for others and making it easier and more accessible for students, especially those doing it all on their own. In a lot of ways, I have come full circle and I can only hope that I have a similar impact along the way that my deans had on me.
2. SCS runs many programs in the summer. Can you tell us more about these many different programs and how they all fit together as a unified whole?
The summer team offers something for everyone. Literally, a learner at almost any stage can find something with us. On our non-credit and pre-college side, we design our offerings around career development theory which explains the different stages one experiences as they explore, test, and ultimately develop an affinity and identity within a certain field. High school-age students are in the career exploration stage, which focuses on information seeking, self-cognition, and testing the environment. So we provide opportunities for about 2,000 students every summer to experiment with different areas of study in a variety of ways so they can start to determine if the area and the environment match with their interests and abilities. A big part of this is reflection and understanding one’s beliefs, values, and passions, so incorporating Jesuit tools like the examen or simple reflection is built into a lot of our programs.
The high school students can also take our credit courses. We typically see students who are further along in their career exploration participate in these courses, and many of them are testing the waters here at Georgetown to see if this is the right fit for them. Anecdotally, I have come across quite a few GU undergrads who participated in one of our programs while they were in high school, so that must be a good sign!
In addition to the almost 200 high school students who enroll in our credit courses, we also serve over 1,000 GU undergraduates plus close to 200 visiting students from around the world in our Summer Sessions. Students range in age and stage in these courses. By that I mean, some students are still exploring career options while others are actually exploring career changes. We have some students who are coming back to college to take courses required for a graduate or professional program or to reskill in preparation for a new job. And for our international students, our summer session courses are a way for them to experience higher education while being exposed to American culture.
3. Your service at Georgetown has been distinguished by your commitment to the University’s mission and values. For example, you serve on the leadership group of the SCS Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion Council (DEBIC). In what ways do you think the summer programs that you oversee uniquely animate Georgetown’s mission?
One of the things I love about my job is that I get some freedom that a lot of people in similar positions in higher education don’t get–freedom to try things that aren’t always about enrollments or revenue. Education accessibility, affordability, and opportunity are truly important to me and need to be a part of my work, and I am so lucky to have a team of people who are just as passionate about these issues as I am. Despite long days and heavy workloads, I have never had a teammate shy away from helping with a mission-driven program.
Our Summer College Immersion Program is the one that always comes to mind because it is long-standing and has proven to be effective. In the 12 years the program has been running, close to 85 percent of SCIP alumni graduate college in four years, which is over 30 percent higher than the national average. We’ve even seen close to 100 SCIP alumni graduate from Georgetown.
New this year, we are partnering with SFS to offer a program for HBCU students interested in exploring security studies as a career option. We have the chance to administratively support this program and be “behind the scenes” which is a new perspective for us but one we are happy to take on so we can be a part of these students’ journeys and embody our values.
4. As a higher education professional and scholar-practitioner studying and writing about leadership in organizations, do you have any final reflections to share?
We’ve all heard it already, but higher education is truly at a critical moment right now, in so many ways. There has always been a tension between the desire to change and evolve and the need to remain stable and true to traditions, but we see the unintended consequences of resisting change. From very real decreases in enrollments and students questioning the value of a degree to students demanding change because the systems and processes were not designed for them–these are all consequences of maintaining the status quo of certain normative systems, structures, and cultures. And these systems, structures, and cultures are at the very heart of the student experience. Faculty and administrators have a role to play in creating this environment. As it is now, there are pockets of individuals or departments who are ready, willing, and able to embrace change; however, leaders at all levels need to embrace change if we want to course correct and change people’s minds and hearts about higher education. And some of that change may seem radical and scary. Things like rethinking degree requirements, faculty tenure, and how to truly support a diverse student body could have a meaningful, positive, and lasting impact.
I would be remiss if I did not emphasize the importance of university staff in all of this. So often the focus and attention and accolades go to faculty, but staff play a critical role, too. I worry about the state of higher education when staff everywhere are burned out, under-resourced, and overwhelmed. We are all human and have a finite capacity to withstand certain conditions, and when we are near our capacity so consistently, things break down. Interpersonal relationships and communication suffers. Processes break down. People break down. Cultures break down. In our ecosystem, when staff break down, faculty break down and then students break down. It behooves us to take care of one another and for leadership to look after and value its staff as much as they value faculty and students.
Summer can be an excellent time for deeper reflection. The prospect of some rest and relaxation with friends and family is energizing and renewing. Of course, not everyone has a lighter schedule of activities and work when others are headed to beaches, pools, or outdoor barbecues. At SCS, the school’s summer team handles both the Summer Session and Summer High School programs at Georgetown. The dedicated staff expects nearly 3,000 students and the team is hard at work preparing for the first in-person summer program since 2019. Mission in Motion has previously amplified the work of the summer team, particularly the Summer College Immersion Program, a deeply mission-aligned three-week Georgetown curricular and co-curricular residential experience for rising high school seniors from the Cristo Rey Network, KIPP Foundation, and other select school systems, networks, and community organization.
This week’s Mission in Motion invites readers to take some time in the summer for quiet meditation, suggesting a form of the examen tailored to summer-time.
No matter how much down time you can expect this summer, I encourage you to make some space for dedicated reflection, prayer, and meditation. There are many options for engaging in such spiritual exercise. You might consider logging into one of the SCS Daily Digitation Meditations (sign up here), taking a nature walk, or doing some slow reading. You may also consider adding the Jesuit-styled Examen of consciousness to your menu of inner practices. The examen, a style of reverential reflection on the meaning of your daily experiences that arises out of the tradition of Jesuit spirituality, is an especially useful tool for busy people. St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, emphasized flexibility and adaptability in the selection of spiritual practices that meet one’s needs. You can try out the examen in a way that works with your life circumstances and commitments.
If you find yourself this summer with extra time and space to devote to your inner life, I encourage you to try out the examen. And here is a suggested framework for a uniquely summer-time reflection:
Take a few moments to enter into a time of stillness. Attend to your body and mind quieting down. As you transition into quiet, put yourself into contact with the Transcendent of your life, whatever the sacred relationship that grounds you. Allow yourself to experience the nearness of the Divine.
As you feel yourself letting go of your distractions and preoccupations, allow yourself to settle your body, mind, and spirit. Quiet yourself by taking some intentional breaths. Try breathing in “peace” and breathing out “distraction.” Move onto the next step when you find your whole self quieting down and settling into this sacred experience.
Now, use all of your senses to experience again the major moments of your day (or if you are reflecting on a longer period of time, your week, or month, or past semester). Savor all of the significant moments, tasting, smelling, and hearing again all of the details. Imagine that you are at rest in the shallow waters and these experiences are like the incoming waves that come into shore one after the next. Just let yourself feel all of these memories again.
As you sift through the major moments, get in touch with your feelings of gratitude. For what in the past day (or week, month, etc.) fills you with gratitude and connects you more closely with the source of these gifts? In the spirit of summer time, what experiences of your life help encourage you to take time for rest and relaxation? Where in your life are you finding peace?
Now spend some time with the opposite experiences and feelings. What in your life is drying you out and sapping up your energy? Moving from the personal to the interpersonal and then to the societal, what events in the world cause you desolation and even despair? How are these feelings of desolation affecting your actions and habits? Sit with these feelings, however difficult, for a little time.
Begin to bring your time of quiet examen to a close by looking ahead. With whatever new insights or deeper awareness that you’ve gained in these moments of stillness, how would you like to make a change in your next day, week, or month? Are you sensing an invitation to become a more generous, loving, and mindful person? End your examen by giving thanks for this time and reminding yourself of your goodness.
This whole sequence can take 10-15 minutes. One of the best things about the examen is that you can do it at any point in your day. In these summer months, as you take stock of your need for rest and recharge, I hope that this invitation to quiet reflection gives you some inner resources for the journey ahead.
In the last few weeks, I have struggled to find sensible words to use in response to the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York. I know that I am not alone in this feeling. Words feel unsatisfactory to the task of making sense of these hate-filled massacres. The pattern of mass violence is all too predictable in our national life: unimaginable death has been routinized and, as a consequence, a temptation sets in to become numb to the carnage and inert about making positive changes in the way we live as a collective.
In this week’s post, Mission in Motion considers hope in the midst of the misery of recent mass shootings and other armed violence. The recent Class of 2020 Baccalaureate Mass, with reflections from President DeGioia and a homily by Fr. Greg Schenden, S.J., centered on the theme of hope. You can watch the mass here.
So it might come as a shock to some that the resource that I’m going to these days is hope. Let me be clear at the beginning: I am not talking about a facile, saccharine, naïve hope that is based in wishful and unrealistic thinking. No, I am talking about the kind of critical hope that arises out of Georgetown’s Catholic and Jesuit tradition and the other religious traditions that have their home at this university. In the midst of this continuing cycle of despair and desolation about the now routinized cycles of senseless loss, I think that a bold and daring hope is what grounds me and can serve as a shared resource for all of us in these difficult days. Because hope is a virtue that extends beyond individual thoughts and actions and calls on everyone to share together in the work of healing, mercy, and justice.
Hope is especially important to name as it relates to our task as a university community in responding to the crisis of armed violence in the United States. The educational mission of Georgetown, grounded as it is in Catholic Social Teaching, reminds us that a just society balances rights, on the one hand, with responsibilities, on the other. We are responsible for one another and have a special obligation to the most vulnerable in our society. Our learning, teaching, and service at Georgetown invites us to evaluate how we are called to participate in the healing and restoration of the brokenness in our society and culture. How can we apply our learning and our professional gifts and talents to build a society that makes its members, especially its most marginalized, feel safe and welcomed?
The actions needed in a time like this are both small and large. In our daily lives and interactions, how can we instill the virtues of tenderness and compassion? How can we extend grace, forgiveness, and seemingly minor acts of charity in the day-to-day? How can we be more sensitive about the language we employ and consider how it is received by others? And in the larger work of structural change: how can we contribute to changes in law and policy that can help reduce the overall incidence of armed violence? What gifts, talents, and resources of our own can we add in a shared struggle for peace and justice in our country and throughout the world?
All of this talk of hope, as unexpected as it might seem these days, comes on the heels of two weekends of Commencement celebration at Georgetown. Dr. Shaun Harper invited the 2022 graduates of SCS to live into the continuation of hope as an antidote to the social ills that plague us. And this past weekend, both President DeGioia and Fr. Greg Schenden, S.J., Director of Campus Ministry, in the Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2020, called out the theme of hope from the Jesuit tradition of spirituality. President DeGioia, reflecting on a reading from St. Paul, invited the assembly to be witnesses to hope and consolation through all of the loss, pain, sadness, difficulty, and disruption. And Fr. Schenden, referring to the writing of the Jesuit historian Fr. John O’Malley, reminded the audience that our mission at Georgetown is to form people for others who serve as ministers of consolation. In a wounded and weary world, this is the kind of hope that we so desperately need.
Last week, Georgetown SCS celebrated the Class of 2022 with multiple ceremonies. The annual Tropaia awards took place in Gaston Hall on May 18 and the traditional Commencement exercises occurred on Healy Lawn on May 20. This was the first time since 2019 that both of these formal proceedings were realized in-person.
The collective joy and relief of returning to one another, a theme first picked in Mission in Motion at the Mass of the Holy Spring that began the 2021–2022 Academic Year, were palpably present during these events. And while the SCS community continues to adapt to the changing conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Commencement sets into motion a renewed way of proceeding at Georgetown.
There were many insights, ideas, experiences, and notable occurrences to highlight during the week of Commencement. Tropaia featured award-winning students and faculty members across the School’s degree programs, including this year’s SCS Spirit of Georgetown award winner Lorena Chinos (see Lorena’s Mission in Motion interview here). Faculty directors noted the adversity and challenge that these community members overcame in realizing their academic goals while serving their communities. The theme of service and commitment to others was also loudly expressed during the Commencement ceremony.
Shaun Harper, Ph.D., a globally recognized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) thought leader and practitioner, inspired the assembly of those gathered in person and online by noting the collective resilience displayed by the Class of 2022. But more than offering platitudes and empty encouragements, Dr. Harper challenged the graduates and everyone assembled to continue the work of justice, service, and compassion for one another. Dr. Harper offered an insightful take on the double meanings of continuation and discontinuation. (In case you missed it, his remarks begin at the 1:15:25 mark.) On one hand, he encouraged graduates to continue their habits of study and life-long learning and deep service of their families, friends, community, and society. In this way, graduation is not an end but a continuation.
The 2022 SCS Tropaia awards took place in Gaston Hall. Lorena Chirinos, a 2022 graduate, received the School’s Spirit of Georgetown Award and is seen pictured with SCS Vice Dean, Shenita Ray, and SCS Associate Director for Mission Integration, Jamie Kralovec.
But on the other hand, Dr. Harper presented a considerable challenge. Moving ahead in one’s profession and life, formed by a Georgetown SCS education, means standing up for principles and values and working individually and collectively to discontinue those practices and policies that separate and divide our communities. He pushed the graduates to realize more completely a just and inclusive society, one that begins in the home but then extends to every sector of the society. And while there continue to be reasons for discouragement and desolation about the world’s state of affairs, Dr. Harper ultimately delivered a hopeful message: There is hope, he maintained, in the continuation.
Georgetown President John DeGioia also picked up on this theme of hope in his concluding remarks. He referenced the concept of “sentire,” or felt knowledge, which President DeGioia presented during his Sacred Lecture as part of Georgetown’s celebration of the Ignatian Year. Rooting his remarks in the Ignatian and Jesuit spiritual tradition, President DeGioia expressed the hopeful possibilities that result from being educated at Georgetown. Knowledge itself and the continual pursuit of it can spark new discovery, new possibilities, and new solutions to the challenges that we face.
We all have a shared stake at Georgetown, whether as current students, staff, faculty, or alumni, in working together to realize a more just future. My hope is that this week of celebration serves as a continuing reminder of the deeper purpose of our educational tasks at the University and a resource for continuing to navigate the disruptions that challenge us.
Every year, Georgetown SCS honors a graduating student or alumni who exemplifies the University’s values, grounded in our Jesuit heritage, of people in service to others, commitment to justice and the common good, intellectual openness, and leadership. A committee of SCS faculty and staff select the winner of the Spirit of Georgetown award after a thoughtful and discerning review of nominating statements that come in from across the community. The winner receives this prestigious award at the conclusion of the SCS Tropaia Ceremony taking place in Gaston Hall on the Hilltop campus.
Public honors like this are important for the work of mission integration because they publicly communicate the values and commitments that SCS aspires to. This year, SCS is proud to give the Spirit of Georgetown award to Lorena Chirinos, a 2022 graduate of the Master of Professional Studies in Integrated Marketing Communications.
Lorena came to Georgetown from Venezuela to realize a dream for herself and her family, and in only a few short years has made a considerable impression on fellow students, faculty, and colleagues because of her commitment to public service. One of her nominators reflected on Lorena’s generous spirit: “Lorena is a living, breathing example of our Jesuit values personified in her commitment to social justice through education. … She has not just excelled academically but also applied her values and experience in support to the university.”
This week’s Mission in Motion is an interview with Lorena about her time at Georgetown, her advice for students, and lessons she is taking away for her professional future.
This week’s post is an interview with Lorena Chirinos, a 2022 graduate of the Master of Professional Studies in Integrated Marketing Communications, who will receive the Spirit of Georgetown award at next week’s SCS Tropaia ceremony.
This week’s post is an interview with Lorena Chirinos, a 2022 graduate of the Master of Professional Studies in Integrated Marketing Communications, who will receive the Spirit of Georgetown award at next week’s SCS Tropaia ceremony.
1. Congratulations on winning the SCS Spirit of Georgetown award! What was your reaction to learning of this news?
I was so proud and excited at the same time. I can’t believe that two years ago I was receiving the news that I got into Georgetown, and now I get to graduate and receive this incredible award. For the past two years I have been a full-time student, while working at Georgetown, and dealing with many of the pressures we immigrants and international students have to deal with, and to receive this recognition just makes me feel like all my hard work was worth it and also noted by everyone around me.
2. How has your education at Georgetown SCS informed your professional discernment? What are you taking away from Georgetown for your next steps in life and career?
The education I received at Georgetown SCS has taught me to be a well-rounded professional. Prior to attending Georgetown, I obtained my B.A. in Mass Communications back in Venezuela and worked as a marketing coordinator for several years. Even though I had extensive knowledge of the industry, Georgetown SCS’s IMC program gave me the strategic tools to make the most out of my expertise. Additionally, I believe that being able to customize your own path by picking the electives that make the most sense to you gives you the opportunity to hone the skills you will need in the future. During this time I also found a deep passion for market research, which has made me want to learn more about this industry and maybe even work at a market research firm someday.
3. What advice would you give to an incoming student at SCS?
First, enjoy it! It is surprising how fast time flew by and how much I’m going to miss going to Georgetown. Secondly, to connect with everyone around you: other students, faculty, and staff. As you navigate graduate school you are going to learn how valuable these connections are, not only professionally but also for your personal development. And lastly, treasure every piece of knowledge you obtain during your journey at Georgetown SCS. I know it can feel overwhelming at times being a grad student and, for many of us, working at the same time. But everything you learn at Georgetown is going to make you a better professional and, overall, a better person.
4. What are you most looking forward to about Commencement?
To see my mom! I haven’t seen my mom in almost three years, and I am very excited to share this celebratory moment with her. I’m also very happy to see my fellow classmates in person. Even though I have had the immense pleasure to meet some of them, I know there are a lot of my online classmates that are going to be coming to the ceremony. It is so crazy and exciting at the same time that I get to meet them after two years since we started the program.
5. How has the Spirit of Georgetown, the Jesuit values that animate the University, come alive for you during your time here?
I loved my time at Georgetown and all the opportunities it presented for me to live the Jesuit values in my day-to-day life. For over a year I had the chance to work as a marketing assistant for Biomedical Graduate Education at Georgetown University. During my time there I had the opportunity to help other fellow Hoyas in their professional development. This position also gave me the opportunity to actively promote resources for other international students and to advocate for diversity and inclusion among our student population. Additionally, I had the pleasure to work with The Red House organization under Georgetown. Working with them helped me understand even further our student population and how we can transform education by breaking paradigms while aspiring to build whole persons that go beyond academic excellence. Lastly, I have had the pleasure to be part of the organizing committee for the first Multicultural Graduation Ceremonies for graduate students at Georgetown University. This experience has allowed me to connect with different Hoyas from different cultural backgrounds and has been an overall enriching experience that I will never forget.
