Conference Circuit: Catholic Higher Education Leaders Think Big

Leaders in religious higher education face the unique challenge of embracing forward-thinking solutions while holding fast to the values that have shaped their institutions. It’s this delicate balance that the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities  (opens in a new tab) is exploring through the theme of its 2015 annual meeting  (opens in a new tab), “Bold Vision, Courageous Voices: Forming a New Generation.”

“Today, when headlines paint a bleak picture of higher education, with tales of imposed rating systems, strained finances, and turnover at the top, our sector can interject a unique voice,” ACCU says in a summary of the event  (opens in a new tab), to be held this weekend in Washington, DC.

This outlook is emphasized by sessions such as “Bold Voices: New Ways of Leading,” in which a panel of college and university presidents will discuss innovative approaches to leading Catholic higher education. Student efforts to respond to the challenges of the day will be highlighted in a screening of “Bold Vision, Courageous Voices: Students Respond to a World in Need.” And Chris Lowney, author of Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads, rounds out the meeting with a discussion of how Catholic higher education executives can follow the Holy Father’s leadership example.

The Week Ahead

January 31: Lichen enthusiasts will enjoy a day jam-packed with the fungus-dwelling organisms at the 2015 annual meeting  (opens in a new tab) of the The California Lichen Society  (opens in a new tab). The event in Redwood City, California, includes a field trip to Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, where attendees might be lucky enough to spot rare lichens like Cladonia, Peltigera, and Leptogium in their natural habitat.

February 3-5: The Society of University Surgeons  (opens in a new tab) and the Association for Academic Surgery  (opens in a new tab) are celebrating a decade of collaboration with the 10th Annual Academic Surgical Congress  (opens in a new tab) in Las Vegas. The meeting will bring these groups together once again to explore various tools  (opens in a new tab) to gain a professional edge, from social media strategy to negotiating skills.

Down the Line

February 4-7: They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association  (opens in a new tab)’s event in San Antonio is no exception. Billed as the oldest and largest convention for the cattle business, the Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show  (opens in a new tab) will present sessions and activities with a distinct down-home flair. Attendees can revel in all things Lone Star State at the Nothin’ But Texas Party  (opens in a new tab), or kick back and listen to a stand-up comedy set by Jeff Foxworthy  (opens in a new tab).

(rachaelvoorhees/Flickr)