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A Message from the Vice President of University AdvancementÌý

As you may know, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø is one of 27 Jesuit universities and colleges in the United States; our sister school St. John’s College in Belize rounds out the membership of the . This Jesuit higher education network makes Loyola so much stronger as an institution than we might be if we were on our own.

I can testify to that strength in my experience working at Loyola for 19 years now. I’ve been lucky enough to serve on the Executive Committee and then the Vice Presidents’ Committee of the (JAA) since 2008, and I’ve chaired JAA for the past year. Being able to talk and spend time with colleagues throughout the year from places like Santa Clara, Rockhurst, Georgetown, Saint Louis University, and Marquette (and more) has helped me celebrate successes at Loyola and get through challenges as well. In Loyola’s advancement efforts, we do better work than we would otherwise because of the Jesuit network.

That’s why I was so pleased this summer to partner with Saint Louis University to host the 2023 Jesuit Advancement Administrators Conference in New Orleans in mid-July. More than 200 Jesuit higher education advancement professionals braved the hot weather to spend July 16-18 in our city. Conference attendees started with a tour of Loyola’s campus and Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Church, followed by a social at the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit at Audubon Zoo.

All day Monday as well as Tuesday morning, the conference featured dozens of seminars and round table discussions for attendees who work in development, annual giving, alumni relations, advancement information services, stewardship, advancement communications, and other fields. Sister Marjorie Hebert, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, was the keynote speaker. The JAA's Barry McGannon, S.J. Award this year honored Gary Massa, longtime vice president of university relations at Xavier University in Cincinnati, for his leadership and service to Jesuit higher education and the advancement profession.

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Response to our hospitality and know-how was very positive from the attendees. With the conference’s success, I’m confident we sent a message nationally that ºÚÁÏÉçÇø is a vibrant member of the American Jesuit higher education network. I’m grateful to my SLU and Loyola New Orleans advancement colleagues who worked so hard to make the conference a first-class affair.

AMDG,Ìý

Chris Wiseman '88