West Coast Methods Institute Annual Meeting 2026
The Idea of the University Today: Newman, Lonergan, and Higher Education
Schedule of Sessions
Thursday, April 23
Session 1: The University in Crisis
3:30–4:15 p.m.
Hemmingson 314
- Joseph Ogbonnaya (Marquette University), “University or Multiversity: Revisioning he Fragility of Liberal Arts in Higher Education”
- Heidi Bostic (Marquette University), “The Emergency of Catholic Higher Education”
- Jon Heaps (Seton Hall University), “A Theory of the University and What It’s For: Précis of a Book in Progress”
Session 2: The Idea of the University: Newman and Lonergan
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Hemmingson 214
- Francesca Zaccharon (Seton Hall University), “The Idea of a University Today: From Tamworth reading room to Topics in Education”
- Francsesco Zucchelli (Facoltà Teologica dell’Italia Centrale), “Silence amidst the Noise: Newman, Guardini, and the Pre-conditions for Lonergan’s Authentic Communication”
Keynote Lecture
6:00 pm
Wolff Auditorium, Jepson
- Pat Byrne (Boston College), “What is the Unity of the University?”
Friday, April 24
Session 3: The Humanities in the University
9–10:15 a.m.
LAW 314
- Paul Kidder (Seattle University), “Teaching Democracy”
- Andrew Barrette (Boston College), “The Value of Novelty in the Humanities: reflections following Newman and Lonergan”
- Theodore Moen (Boston College), “Expanding Horizons: Lonergan’s Account of Conversion and the Reading of Great Books”
Session 4: Teaching in the University
10:30–11:45 a.m.
LAW 314
- Michael Sharkey (, “Report on Teaching:
- Byrne’s Discernment: An Introduction to Ethics”
- Clayton Shoppa, “Education as Conversion”
Session 5: Formation, Education, and Conversion
1:30–2:45 p.m.
LAW 314
- Tim Muldoon (Boston College), “Illative self-appropriation: Newman, Lonergan, and spiritual exercise in the formation of persons”
- Ashleigh Reen (Boston College), "Educating for Freedom: Maria Montessori and The Secret Garden"
- Jessamine Crowley (Boston College), “Enlargement of the Mind and Enlargement of Horizons in Newman and Lonergan”
Session 6: Culture and the University
2:45–4:00 p.m.
LAW 314
- Evaristus Ekueme, SJ, “Artificial Intelligence, Social Media and the Role of Higher Education in Educating the Whole Person: A Lonerganian Response”
- Gregory Floyd (Boston College), “Who can you trust? A Critique of Motivated Reasoning Analysis”
Session 7: Panel: “Truth, the University and its Members”
4:15–5:30 p.m.
LAW 314
- Andrew Barrette
- Jessamine Crowley
- Gregory Floyd
- Jerri Cheung
Tyrrell Lecture
6 p.m.
Wolff Auditorium, Jepson
- Jen Sanders, “The Theology Core: Atheism, Spiritual Conversation, and the Crucifixion”
Saturday, April 25
Session 8: Theology and the University
9–10:15 a.m.
HEMM 004
- Michael Costas (Boston College), “The Role of Theology in the Contemporary University”
- John Steichen (Boston College), “The Question of God and the Challenge of Teaching Theology in the Modern University” (via Zoom)
- Chris Krall, SJ, “Educating an Experience of God: What Students Seek Versus What’s Possible to Teach”
Session 9: Theological Education as Formation
10:30–11:45 a.m.
HEMM 004
- Ligita Ryliskyte (Boston College), “Seeking Analogies for Christ’s Human Consciousness”
- Henry Widdicombe (Boston College), “Liturgy and Pedagogy: Participation, Formation, and Action”
Session 10: Institutional Conversion
1:30–2:45 p.m.
HEMM 004
- Tom O’Connor (CEO, Transforming Communication), “Advancing Wholeness and Authentic Collaboration”
- Luke Lavin (Seattle University), ““Forming the Formers: Ignatian Discernment and Institutional Authenticity in Higher Education”
- John Krambuhl (Georgetown Prep), “Holy Institutions: Catholic Schools in the Drama of Salvation” (via Zoom)
Session 11: Panel: The Poetry of Chip Hughes
3:00-4:15 p.m.
HEMM 004
- Jon Heaps (Seton Hall University)
- Tom McPartland (Kentucky State University, ret)
- Paul Kidder (Seattle University)
- Mary Elliot (Boston College)
Mass
5:00 p.m.
St. Aloysius Church
Reception Banquet
6:00 pm
HUB 153