Top of Mooney Hall Through Trees

Harvest Our Treasures:

Midway Through the Journey

A Strategic Plan Symposium


Wednesday, May 11 | Noon – 5 p.m.
Bethany Hall, Rooms A, B and C

As the University approached the mid-point of its implementation of its strategic plan, Harvest Our Treasures, the community collectively paused, shared updates, provided feedback on areas of opportunity and challenge, and recommended modifications, if needed, within the plan's intentionally flexible five goals during the afternoon symposium.

Throughout the day, goal-focused meetings ran concurrently in three sessions. Each goal session, plus a session on Mission-related initiatives, featured:

  • External, higher education experts who will discuss national trends and provide context on the appropriate goal/theme.
  • Status briefings on the University's specific progress by the Implementation Goal Committee co-chairs for each goal/theme.
  • Q&A sessions with colleagues actively working on goal implementation, followed by community discussion about areas of impact and opportunities for strategy implementation.

View Event Session Recordings

The full schedule of events can be found below with status reports on each goal available for viewing. All members of the University community were invited and encouraged to attend, and the session recordings are available for viewing with Seton Hall credentials.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

Schedule of Events

All sessions were recorded and are available for reviewing with Seton Hall credentials. Click here to view the recordings.

The community is also welcome to submit electronic feedback on the event by June 24 and may do so by completing the form here.

  •   Welcome Session
    Noon – 12:45 p.m., Bethany Hall, Room B

    This opening session provided an overview of the Harvest Our Treasures Strategic Plan Symposium, the afternoon’s strategy sessions and reviewed major areas of progress by the University within a national context.

  •   Goal 1: Innovative and Interdisciplinary Academic Program Development
    12:55 – 1:50 p.m., Bethany Hall, Room A

    Goal 1 of Seton Hall’s strategic plan focuses on providing a distinctive and rigorous education in the liberal arts tradition that also informs curated professional and graduate programs and provides all students the education to become adaptable, imaginative, resilient, ethical and successful individuals.

    Hear about trends in innovating and interdisciplinary new academic program development and receive a status briefing from the co-chairs of the Goal 1 Implementation Committee on Seton Hall’s accomplishments in Goal 1 to date. A panel of those engaged in the implementation of Goal 1 answered questions and received feedback on the additional areas of opportunity and prioritization for Goal 1.

    Presenters:

    • Randy D. Weinstein, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Villanova University
    • Provost Katia Passerini, Ph.D., Seton Hall University
    • Jonathan Farina, Ph.D., Special Advisor to the Provost and Associate Professor of English
     

    Panelists:

    • Cecilia Marzabadi, Ph.D., Academy for Green Chemistry, Stewardship, and Sustainability & Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
    • Brian Meadows, Ph.D., Director of TESOL, Director of ESL and Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Studies
    • Father Brian Muzas, Co-chair of Committee on Catholic Intellectual Tradition & Assistant Professor, Diplomacy and International Relations
    • Abe Zakhem, Ph.D., Chair of Committee on Liberal Arts; Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy
    • Hongfei Tang, Ph.D., Academy for Applied Analytics and Technology & Associate Professor, Department of Finance
     

    Click here to view a status report on Goal 1.

  •   Goal 2: Promoting Academic Quality: Growth in Research Grants/Faculty Development and Preparing for Middle States
    2 – 2:55 p.m., Bethany Hall, Room A

    Goal 2 of Seton Hall’s strategic plan focuses on supporting faculty in strengthening academic quality, advancing research and scholarship, and enhancing interdisciplinarity, equity and inclusion.

    Hear about trends in advancing research and faculty development and receive a status briefing from the co-chairs of the Goal 2 Implementation Committee on Seton Hall’s accomplishments in Goal 2 to date. A panel of those engaged in the implementation of Goal 2 answered questions and received feedback on the additional areas of opportunity and prioritization for Goal 2.

    Presenters:

    • Tara Massimino, Managing Director at McAllister & Quinn
    • Katia Passerini, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice President
    • John Buschman, D.L.S., Interim Associate Provost for Research and Innovation
     

    Panelists:

    • Mary Balkun, Ph.D, Professor of English and Director of Faculty Development
    • John Saccoman, Ph.D., Professor, Program Advisor for Mathematics and Chair, Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, Co-Chair of the Middle States Steering Committee
    • Norma Rubbio, Compliance Manager and Grants Generalist
    • Lisa Deluca, Assistant Dean of the Libraries
    • Joseph Huddleston, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Diplomacy and International Relations
     

    Click here to view a status report on Goal 2.

  •   Goal 3: Student Retention and Success: Where We Were, Where We Are and Where We Are Going
    12:55 – 1:50 p.m., Bethany Hall, Room C

    Goal 3 of Seton Hall’s strategic plan focuses on creating a student experience that is equitable and consistent, enhances student support and retention, and prepares students to be impactful global citizens.

    Hear about trends in undergraduate success and retention and areas of graduate program growth and receive a status briefing from the co-chairs of the Goal 3 Implementation Committee on Seton Hall’s accomplishments in five main areas so far: the affordability agenda, academic interventions and outcomes, student engagement, career services and graduate student support. A panel of those engaged in the implementation of Goal 3 answered questions and received feedback on the additional areas of opportunity and prioritization for Goal 3.

    Presenters:

    • Owen Crean, Managing Director for Graduate, Online, and Adult Learner Recruitment, EAB
    • Angela Street, Director of Research Advisory Services, EAB
    • Monica Burnette, Ph.D., Vice President of Student Services
    • Christopher Cuccia, Ed.D., Associate Provost for Academic and Graduate Affairs
     

    Panelists:

    • Steven Lorenzet, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Stillman School of Business, and Associate Professor of Management
    • Daria Allen, Director of New Student Programs
    • Alyssa McCloud, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management
    • Joshua Dornbos, Assistant Dean of the Center for Academic Success
    • Kelly Shea, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English and Director of the Writing Center
    • Matthew Corrigan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work
     

    Click here to view a status report on Goal 3.

  •   Goal 4: DEI: Where We Were and Where We Are Going
    2 – 2:55 p.m., Bethany Hall, Room C

    Goal 4 of Seton Hall’s strategic plan focuses on further cultivating and nurturing a trusting and collaborative Seton Hall community that educates and empowers all its members to advance equity, inclusion and social justice on campus and in the wider world.

    Hear about trends in DEI efforts at colleges and universities and receive a status briefing from the co-chairs of the Goal 4 Implementation Committee on Seton Hall’s accomplishments so far. A panel of those engaged in the implementation of Goal 4 answered questions and received feedback on the additional areas of opportunity and prioritization for Goal 4.

    Presenters:

    • Valeda Dent, Ph.D., Acting Provost and VP for Student Success and Learning Innovation at Hunter College, CUNY, and soon to be Vice Provost of Libraries and Museum at Emory University
    • Monica Burnette, Ph.D., Vice President of Student Services
    • Jonathan Farina, Ph.D., Special Advisor to the Provost and Associate Professor of English
     

    Panelists:

    • Valeda Dent, Acting Provost and VP for Student Success and Learning Innovation at Hunter College, CUNY
    • Lori Brown, Chief Equity, Diversity, and Compliance Officer
    • Majid Whitney, Assistant Vice President and Senior Associate Dean in Student Services
    • Zinaida Miller, Assistant Professor of International Law and Human Rights
    • Marianne Lloyd, Professor of Psychology
    • Juan Rios, Assistant Professor of Sociology
    • Ruth Tsuria, Assistant Professor of Communication and Faculty Senator
     

    Click here to view a status report on Goal 4.

  •   Goal 5: Fiscal Recovery and Sustainability
    3:05 – 4 p.m., Bethany Hall, Room A

    Goal 5 of Seton Hall’s strategic plan focuses on advancing institutional sustainability by creating a nimble, responsive and innovative operational infrastructure and by making strategic investments in people, programs and partnerships to ensure that Seton Hall can achieve its mission for current and future generations of students.

    Hear about trends in fiscal sustainability and recovery after the pandemic and receive a status briefing from the co-chairs of the Goal 5 Implementation Committee on Seton Hall’s accomplishments so far. A panel of those engaged in the implementation of Goal 5 answered questions and received feedback on the additional areas of opportunity and prioritization for Goal 5.

    Presenters:

    • Jaime Ontiveros, Managing Director of Huron
    • Donna McMonagle, Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
    • Jon Paparsenos, Vice President for University Advancement
     

    Panelists:

    • Michael Silvestro, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
    • Mary Jean King, Associate Vice President for Advancement Services
    • John Signorello, Associate Vice President of Facilities Engineering & Business Affairs
    • Erik Lillquist, JD, Associate Provost for Academic Projects & Professor of Law
     

    Click here to view a status report on Goal 5.

  •   Mission: Catholic Identity - Mission: Don't MISS it! 
    3:05 – 4 p.m., Bethany Hall, Room C

    As part of the Strategic Planning process, members of the Strategic Planning Committee intentionally chose to weave objectives in support of advancing Seton Hall’s Catholic educational mission throughout the plan to ensure that responsibility for maintaining Seton Hall’s mission is shared by all members of the University community. Additionally, Harvest Our Treasure’s Guiding Principles serve as a foundation upon which to reach Seton Hall’s Academic Vision as an academically distinguished Catholic university with a national reputation for educating a diverse student body through the liberal arts and sciences and select professional programs that are infused with the Catholic intellectual tradition.

    Hear about trends in Catholic Mission and Identity, specifically as it relates to the Catholic intellectual tradition, and receive a status briefing on the implementation of Mission-related objectives throughout the strategic plan. A panel of those engaged in these mission-bolstering projects answered questions and received feedback on the additional areas of opportunity and prioritization for mission-related initiatives.

    Presenters:

    • Charles Camosy, Associate Professor, Department of Theology, Fordham University (10 minutes)
    • Rev. Colin Kay, Vice President for Mission & Ministry
     

    Panelists:

    • Greg Floyd, Ph.D., Director, Center for Catholic Studies; Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellow, CORE
    • Gloria Thurmond, D. Min, Senior Faculty Associate of Music in the College of Communication & the Arts
    • Rev. Gerald Buonopane, Ph.D., Minister to the Priest Community, Senior Lecturer, Chemistry and Biochemistry
    • Anthony Sciglitano, Ph.D., Former CORE Director, Associate Professor of Religion and Interim Director of the Sister Rose Thering Fund for Education in Jewish-Christian Studies
     

    Click here to view a status report on Mission Initiatives in Harvest Our Treasures.

  •   Closing Reception
    4 – 5 p.m., Bethany Hall, Room B

    The closing reception was open to all attendees of the Symposium in celebration of the great work happening across the University in implementing Harvest Our Treasures. This reception offered a special thank you to all of the members of the University community engaged in the day-to-day implementation of the strategic plan and showcased books written by members of the University community this year and their authors, as Seton Hall strives to enliven its Academic Vision.