Encore Fellows
Encore Fellows empowers accomplished individuals to foster spiritual growth, rediscover purpose, enhance well-being and impact their communities within a supportive and vibrant intellectual environment rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Distinguished Leadership Initiative
Redefine Your Legacy
The Program
Encore Fellows offers a non-credit, year-long, transformative journey for experienced individuals of any faith approaching a new life stage who want to develop a deeper understanding of who they are; how they can live meaningful, purposeful and healthier lives.
Learn & Know
Explore the big questions. Create your next chapter.
At the heart of the Encore Fellows experience is a vibrant academic foundation centered on the seminar A Life Worth Living: Create Your Path, Your Purpose. This signature course invites fellows to reflect deeply on what truly matters by engaging with the insights of classical philosophers and contemporary thought leaders.
Participants examine life’s enduring questions: What makes a good life? How do we live with purpose? How do we contribute meaningfully to our communities and the world?
In addition to the seminar, fellows join Sacred Heart faculty for regular luncheons, dinners and special receptions that offer opportunities to connect, reflect and grow in community with scholars and peers. These moments spark dialogue and deepen relationships, helping fellows rediscover the joy of intellectual discovery in a new season of life.
Wisdom & Wholeness
Nurture your inner self. Reconnect with your well-being.
In a world that often values productivity over peace, the Encore Fellows Program creates space to attend to the whole self. In the Wisdom & Wholeness seminar, fellows are invited into spiritual reflection and dialogue, crafted to be inclusive of all religious backgrounds and welcoming to those of no particular faith tradition.
Through meditative practices, readings and personal storytelling, participants explore what it means to live with intention and clarity. The seminar helps fellows integrate life experiences into a more holistic sense of identity and direction.
Fellows are also encouraged to engage in wellness activities that support physical, mental and emotional health. This may include yoga, mindfulness or group walks, all of which are designed not as obligations, but as opportunities to refresh and re-center in a supportive and nourishing environment.
Enrich & Enjoy
Immerse yourself in the arts, culture and conversation.
Sacred Heart University’s campus, and its surrounding region, offers a wealth of cultural, intellectual and artistic resources. Fellows gain exclusive access to lectures, performances, gallery exhibitions, colloquia and sporting events that stimulate the mind and feed the soul.
Whether attending a guest lecture from a leading journalist, taking in a student theater performance, cheering on the ice hockey team in the on-campus arena or exploring modern art with peer Encore participants, fellows enjoy rich opportunities to celebrate the creative spirit.
This pillar encourages not only appreciation but active engagement through informal book clubs, film discussions and creative workshops that bring ideas to life. It’s a space to experience joy, connect with others and rediscover passions.
Lead & Serve
Channel your experience into meaningful impact.
Encore Fellows don’t just reflect; they take action. In this final pillar, participants have the opportunity to identify a pressing community issue that resonates with their values and lived experiences. From food insecurity to educational equity to environmental justice, the program invites fellows to partner with local organizations, civic leaders and SHU faculty to design and contribute to real-world responses.
Whether leading a community project, mentoring younger students or engaging in policy advocacy, Encore Fellows are empowered to turn their insights into action, helping build a more just and compassionate society.
Courses
Fellows will complete six seminars/courses throughout the year-long program.
Along with the core seminars, participants will choose elective courses from art, literature, writing, music, art or music history, philosophy, theology, science, health science, education, business or computer technology.
Hotel Accommodations | Optional*
Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, Connecticut, just 55 miles northeast of New York City. SHU's safe, thriving campus is just minutes away from many exciting places to explore and enjoy–from delicious food to entertainment venues, outdoor adventures, museums and shopping. Hotel accommodations may be made for fellows to travel to the campus for events.
Travel Abroad Experience | Optional*
Travel options based on the interest of the cohort:
- Pilgrimage to Assisi, Rome and Florence
- The Holy Land
- El Camino, Spain
- Dingle, Ireland (SHU Campus)
*Additional Cost
Program Tuition
$17,000
Admission Information
This new program is on the horizon! The application will be available shortly. Stay tuned for more information.
Questions about the program?
Contact Father Tony Ciorra at ciorraa@sacredheart.edu or Michelle Loris, Ph.D., Psy.D. at lorism@sacredheart.edu.