SHU Appoints Senior Vice President for Mission & Culture

Francis X.R. Origanti hopes to expand Pioneer Journey to reach beyond students’ first year

Francis X.R. Origanti, associate dean of the School of Social Work at Sacred Heart University, has been appointed senior vice president for mission & culture. He will oversee mission, ministry, community engagement and the Pioneer Journey program.

“The dedication that Francis has for social justice and his ability to make every individual feel seen is exactly why he is the right person for this role,” said SHU President John J. Petillo. “I am looking forward to seeing how he further integrates our University’s mission into the students’ experiences.”

Prior to working at SHU, Origanti was an associate professor and chair of the school of social sciences at Avila University in Kansas City, MO, where he oversaw the criminology and justice studies and social work departments. He also established the Saint Louis University master’s in social work partnership, chaired its rank and tenure committee and created a 10-day interdisciplinary human rights-focused travel course to India.

In a question-and-answer interview, Origanti discussed his plans to emphasize SHU’s Catholic tradition.

What are your hopes and goals for mission and culture at Sacred Heart?

One of the biggest plans we have is the “mission and culture project.” This project will focus on the preservation and enhancement of the distinctive educational mission and culture of the University and its Catholic heritage in all facets of the academic and social life of the SHU community. We have had 60 years of history, and we are trying to put that into a package and say, “This is what a Catholic institution inspired by the second Vatican Council looks like, especially at Sacred Heart.” So, enhancing and preserving the mission and culture of our University is going to be my most important work.

Why do you think it is important for students to use the resources from the mission integration, ministry & community engagement office?

It is important for students to have an opportunity to connect with one another and to do so in terms of their faith and their service. Regarding community engagement, our goal is to expand our partnerships and outreach to more organizations and to increase students’ opportunities to be engaged with different groups. For example, we recently had 39 first-year students participating in the community connections pre-fall program. This is an opportunity for first-year students to establish a sense of partnership and a sense of belonging at the University. So, getting involved in this office not only builds one’s faith, but it also provides opportunities for service and making connections with one another.

What is the role of Pioneer Journey in the experience of Sacred Heart students? Do you have any specific goals for this program?

When students come in as freshmen, they take Catholic intellectual tradition (CIT) seminars, and this is just the beginning of Pioneer Journey. The goal for this program is to make sure that what is taught in CIT courses is continuous throughout the entirety of students’ experiences at SHU, even outside of academics. I’ll look at how we incorporate these teachings into student affairs, athletics and fraternity & sorority life programming. Students need to feel like they are a part of the University when they come here, and this is the way to show them how it is done.

How do you think your past position as associate dean of the School of Social Work and your research on international social work education will help you in your new position?

There is so much parallel between social work and the University’s mission. Both look at social justice, dignity and worth of the individual. I think my background in social work and academia has prepared me well to view people in terms of who they are. Acknowledging the dignity and worth of every human being is not just in social work; it is everywhere. That is where my experience of working as the associate dean and as a social worker has prepared me for this role. It is very important for us to be engaged with one another and be committed to our mission.