The Conway Fellowship for Jesuit Education 2025-26

Xavier University's Ruth J. and Robert A. Conway* Institute for Jesuit Education is a center of distinction, unique to the Jesuit colleges and universities, that assists educators in transforming students intellectually, morally and spiritually in the Jesuit Catholic tradition, while appropriating Ignatian pedagogy and spirituality in today's world. Moreover, a significant function of The Conway Institute is reaching beyond the Xavier campus with pedagogical innovations communicated locally, nationally, and internationally throughout the network of Jesuit schools, colleges and universities.

One of a number of major initiatives within the Conway Institute is the Faculty Fellow opportunity which expands participation of faculty in advancing Ignatian pedagogy and the Jesuit educational experience. The Conway Fellow for Jesuit Education will undertake a project focused on significant issues impacting the University and the field of higher education.

Faculty Fellow Program

(Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 or Spring 2026)

Through generous funding from the Ruth J. and Robert A. Conway Foundation, the Institute supports one faculty member each year to serve as the Conway Faculty Fellow for Jesuit Education. Faculty members applying for this position will propose projects that make a significant mission-related impact on the educational endeavor at Xavier and beyond.

The selected recipient will receive a summer stipend and released from all teaching responsibilities during one semester of the following year. It will be expected that the Faculty Fellow will disseminate results of the project internally, across faculty and academic departments at Xavier, as well as to other universities and schools, both Jesuit and non-Jesuit, as appropriate to the project. The fellowship cannot be divided between multiple faculty members.

Fellowship projects will support Xavier's Vision and Mission such that graduates are ever more inspired and prepared to:

• Take their place as leaders in our rapidly changing global world,
• Promote peace and social and environmental justice,
• Use the process of attention, reflection and discernment when making decisions,
• Care for others, especially the poor and marginalized,
• Be introspective, self aware, and seek to find the Divine in all things,
• Do good deeds for the greater glory of God.
     See past Conway Fellowship projects

Outcome/Expectations

• A pedagogical project that intentionally advances Jesuit Catholic education, including the Universal Apostolic Preferences, at Xavier and that has relevance to other educational institutions.
• An end-of-project report, to be shared with the Conway Foundation, that includes a description of the final project, the outcome, and dissemination efforts.

Support

• A summer stipend of $10,000. It is expected that the Conway Fellow will be working full-time on the project during the summer months.
• Release from all teaching responsibilities during one semester of the following year, either Fall 2025 or Spring 2026, to be determined by applicant. (Funding will be available to the department to hire a full-time replacement faculty person for the semester.)
• Expenses up to $5,000, as appropriate to the project, to be used within the time-frame of the project.
• Consultation and assistance from the staff of the Center for Mission and Identity, including the Director of Faculty Programs and the Founding Director of the Institute (Debra Mooney), as well as from the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Application

All full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty from all disciplines are eligible to apply. Applicants must submit proposals following the format outlined below.

Applications will be reviewed by a 2-4 person panel comprises of relevant campus representatives, such as the Director of Faculty Programs in Mission and Identity (Dr. Teresa Young), a Jesuit Scholar (Fr. Jim McCann SJ), a representative from the Faculty Development Committee, and/or a representative from the CTE. The panel will provide its own judgment regarding priority among the applications it reviews. The Chief Mission Officer and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs will have the final voice in selecting the Conway Fellow for Jesuit Education.

1. The application in the form outlined below
2. Curriculum vitae (abbreviated, no more than three pages)
3. A supporting letter from the Department Chair
4. A supporting letter from the College Dean

Applicants should submit a copy of the final proposal to their Department Chair and Dean.

For questions, contact Debra Mooney, VP for Mission and Identity and Founding Director of the Conway Institute (Mooney@xavier.edu). 

* Bob Conway, '49, was honored during the 2009 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of his passionate commitment to Xavier University's mission and identity. Over the course of his long relationship with the University, Conway has given generously of his time, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for fourteen years, six of which were as founding chair of the Jesuit Identity Committee. As an undergraduate student at Xavier, he served as president of the student council and captain of the Musketeer football team.

APPLICATION FORMAT - not to exceed 6 pages

Cover Page

1. Name of applicant
2. Rank
3. Department
4. Semester requested (Fall 2025 or Spring 2026, in addition to Summer 2025)
5. Title of project
6. Abstract (150 words or less)

   7. Project Description (1-3 pages single spaced)

Describe, in detail, your pedagogical/educational project including the impact it will have at Xavier - for your students, course/curriculum, College, and/or University - as well as other educational communities and networks, such as Jesuit, Catholic, faith-based, secondary, discipline-specific, etc. The narrative should address the following questions:

• Why is this project needed?
• What is your interest and experience with the proposed pedagogical issue?
• How does this project, explicitly, relate to Jesuit education and the Ignatian tradition?
• What is the short and long term impacts of the project?
• How is the project 'success/innovation' defined?

Dissemination Plan
Describe plans for communicating your findings/outcome within the Xavier campus and externally.

Preliminary Schedule
Describe the anticipated sequence of project activity and responsibilities within the 2024 summer and following semester timeline.

Project Expenses (if appropriate; up to $5,000)
Describe the need for project expenses within the time-frame of the project (with consideration to the dissemination plan as well).

** Per current University travel restrictions, projects cannot include travel in Summer 2025  

Other (if appropriate)
If the project is successful, would continuation funds be necessary to sustain the impact? If so, please explain.