This week the School of Continuing Studies released its annual Dean’s Report. The 2020 reflection was framed using a motif from early Jesuit history, “communitas ad dispersionem,” a community in dispersion. This describes the novel ways that Jesuits on mission throughout the world in the 16th Century used the technology of their day, hand-written letters, to stay connected despite the disruptions of distance. At SCS this year, inspired by this example from Jesuit history, we intentionally integrated our Jesuit mission in adaptive ways across the school to meet the challenges presented in 2020. Amidst a global pandemic that forced remote learning and working, SCS discovered new ways of being a community by leveraging technology to maintain connection and a sense of belonging.
Dean Kelly Otter sums up how SCS lived up to its mission commitment when she writes:
“Despite being physically apart, it was inspiring to see the level of collaboration and connectedness that contributed to ensuring that our standards of education quality were being met while we expanded the modalities of teaching and learning. Students, faculty, and staff alike leaned in on extraordinary levels and created a new kind of community space using technologies and channels like never before…May we continue to embrace that communal spirit and adapt to these unique forms of teaching and learning with the utmost compassion and respect for one another.”
Vice Dean for Education and Faculty Affairs Shenita Ray reflects on the incredible amount of work and sacrifice demonstrated by SCS faculty and staff to realize this commitment:
“On the whole, I witnessed faculty and staff deepening their commitment to students, to the School, and to the entire Georgetown community. We came together as a united front and heightened our focus, clarity, creativity, determination, and perseverance to ensure the continued success of all SCS students and the learning and teaching enterprise… I feel privileged that I was able to bear witness to extraordinary human qualities that reflect the essence of our Jesuit values and the spirit of Georgetown.”
As we come to the end of a challenging year and prepare ourselves for the journey ahead in 2021, I invite us into a deeper reflection about how this year of community in dispersion has shaped us individually and collectively.
- How have you been stretched as a person because of the challenges of 2020? What have you learned about yourself?
- What have you learned about the power of community this year? How has our Georgetown community responded to the challenge? What role have you played in helping build up our community?
- What are your hopes and desires for the coming year? In what ways are you seeking to develop (spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, etc) into an even more whole person?
I wish you a wonderful break and a peaceful holiday. May you experience the blessings and refreshments of this season and return to Georgetown in the new year with a renewed commitment to living out our mission as members of this SCS community.