The call to Ignatian leadership
By Steve K. Stoute
We asked Steve K. Stoute to reflect on what the Jesuit aspect asks of him in his position as president of Canisius University.
Question 1: What about the Jesuit sponsorship or brand of Canisius makes your job easier than it would be if your institution was just another private institution?
St. Ignatius and his companions founded the Society of Jesus in 1540. In 1548, a young Jesuit — St. Peter Canisius — established the first Jesuit school in Messina, Italy.
Over the centuries since, Jesuit education has grown to over 3,000 institutions in almost every corner of the world. The reason for that expansion is because our Ignatian tradition views education as a way to draw human beings closer to being the persons God intended — closer to our fullest potential. This context makes clear to me that our work as educators at Jesuit institutions is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, because God desires each and every one of his children to be closer to Him.
As leaders in Jesuit higher education we have an obligation that is unique in our field, because of its deep connection to our almost 500-year-old Ignatian tradition. Given the social, economic and environmental degradation we see in the world today, it is imperative that leaders of our Jesuit institutions seize the opportunity we have to articulate a different vision for our world. A vision where education is embraced as an opportunity to accompany young people on a transformative and hope-filled journey to their best selves — a journey that will elevate our families and communities, and give more people the ability to live with their God-given dignity. Our society is calling out for leadership, which Jesuit institutions and those who lead them are particularly qualified to deliver because it is ingrained in our identity.
Question 2: What didn’t you know about Jesuit higher education that would have made your transition to Canisius easier?
In terms of what I did not know about Jesuit higher education that would have made my transition easier, the most important was probably the role of the president as “director of the work,” which is a role specific to Jesuit institutions.
That particular role, which was likely obvious to my predecessors — all but one of whom was a Jesuit priest — is critically important because it means I have been missioned by our provincial to carry on the work of the worldwide Society of Jesus in this apostolate. Part of my formation as a lay leader was coming to know that there are particular expectations of me, as director of the work, which cannot be delegated — like many ordinary presidential responsibilities — to other members of my team.
For example, the director of the work is expected to play a specific role at the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Fortunately, I have been the beneficiary of wise counsel from colleagues who have helped me understand my unique role as director of the work. One additional and important thing to learn about was the tight-knit and collegial community of colleagues in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), which is another fact about Jesuit higher education that I was unaware of and that has been instrumental to my leadership journey at Canisius.
Question 3: What formation opportunities helped you understand Canisius as a Jesuit institution?
There are many wonderful formation opportunities available to lay leaders in Jesuit higher education, particularly through the AJCU. However, I was fortunate to attend the 2022 International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) Assembly in Boston within weeks of assuming the presidency at Canisius. The theme of the IAJU Assembly was “Discerning the Future of Jesuit Higher Education,” and although this may not have been planned as a formation opportunity, it certainly served that purpose for me. The IAJU Assembly provided me the opportunity to engage with colleagues involved in important work connected to the Universal Apostolic Preferences, hear directly from Superior General Arturo Sosa, and reflect on the role our institutions must play in advancing our society toward a more just future.
Those few days in Boston provided me with an important perspective on the global project that we are a part of at Canisius. The IAJU Assembly also energized me about this work, it helped clarify for me the theme of my inaugural year as president: R.I.S.E, and planted the seed for the title and framework of our new strategic plan: Answer the Call.
Steve K. Stoute is president of Canisius University.
