Schoenstedt Next Director of Faculty Programs in Mission and Identity

CINCINNATI, 8 Jan. - Debra Mooney, PhD, assistant to the president for Mission and Identity/chief mission officer at Xavier University, announces that Linda Schoenstedt, EdD, associate professor of sports studies, will serve as the university's next director of Faculty Programs in Mission and Identity, effective FY18. In this unique half-time position, Schoenstedt will support faculty colleagues in transforming students in the Ignatian-Jesuit educational tradition by designing innovative professional development experiences within the Center for Mission and Identity's Ruth J. and Robert A. Conway Institute for Jesuit Education.

Dr. Schoenstedt is a highly respected campus leader. Currently serving as the chair of the Faculty Committee for the 2nd year, she is co-chairing the Provost/CAO hiring committee, supporting the development of the Academic Plan, and a member of both the President's Cabinet and the Advisory Committee of the University Planning and Resource Council. In addition to her noteworthy campus leadership experience, she is well versed in the Ignatian pedagogical tradition. Her knowledge of Jesuit education stems from extensive participation in mission-relevant opportunities including the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities' Summer Leadership Seminar and Ignatian Pilgrimage to Spain and Rome. On campus, she has been a mentor in the Ignatian Mentoring Program, a perennial presenter at the Manresa Orientation for new hires, and a participant in the newly created 'Wisdom and Integration with the Spiritual Exercises" group for faculty. "With her knowledge of Ignatian pedagogy, commitment to supporting fellow faculty, and inspirational style, she has the 'what-why-how' to advance the strategic goals related to Xavier's mission, identity, vision and values" says Mooney.

Scheonstedt's academic interests are in coaching standardization, social media marketing in sport, and ethics and diversity in sport. In addition to teaching and scholarship, she has been involved in several areas of the sport industry as a coach, athletic director, facility manager, and volunteer for local and national events and organizations. She received her doctoral degree from Montana State University and a BA from Creighton University.

With single terms of one to three years, Schoenstedt will be the fifth Xavier faculty member to assume the director of Faculty Programs position begun in 2008.