December 2025 Newsletter

In this edition:

• JASPA Pulse Check
• JASPA Awards - Nominations Open
• JASPA Annual Conference - Save the Date
• JASPA Pipeline Stewardship
• JASPA Functional Area Networking (FAN) - Call for Leads
• NJSLC 2026 @ Xavier University
• Upcoming Programs
   

JASPA Pulse Check

Thank you to everyone who took October’s Pulse Check! You can view the October results in the graphic below, which shows that most respondents have stayed connected to JASPA through updates and events, feel part of a supportive community, and are looking forward to professional development and deeper connection this year.

This month, we’re turning our attention to pausing at year's end. Click here to take this month’s short, three-question survey.


 

JASPA Awards - Nominations Open

Nominations are now open for the JASPA 2026 Awards. Every year, JASPA recognizes initiatives and individuals for their hard work and dedication to promoting the Jesuit ideals on our respective campuses. Award submissions are due by January 30. Please take a moment to consider submitting a nomination for the following awards:

• Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Academic Partnership
• Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Commitment to Diversity and Social Justice
• Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Campus Program or Initiative
• Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student in Jesuit Student Affairs
• Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Jesuit Student Affairs
• Ignatian Medal for Outstanding New Professional in Jesuit Student Affairs 
• JASPA Scholarship Award
• Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Service to JASPA

All award descriptions can be found at:
https://www.jesuitstudentaffairs.org/cpages/awards
 

JASPA Annual Conference - Save the Date

Saturday, March 7, 2026
@ Rockhurst University
Kansas City, Missouri

We are very excited to head to Kansas City, Missouri, and Rockhurst University for the JASPA Annual Conference. The one-day event will include the Annual Conference, JASPA Banquet & Awards, and Club JASPA (evening social). The conference will begin in the late morning (after 11:00 AM CST) and all events will conclude by 10:30 PM. All events will take place on the Rockhurst University campus in Kansas City, Missouri.

While in town, Kansas City has a ton of things to do, so get excited to spend some time in the city! Some fun things to do in Kansas City: River Market, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, American Jazz Museum, Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, WWI Monument and Museum, Loose Park, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, Kansas City Country Club Plaza, and don’t forget KC has the Best BBQ in the World.

Kansas City has a wonderful streetcar service that can be used to get around town. Check out the route here:

https://kcstreetcar.org/

For those looking to reserve hotel rooms closest to campus, please view the local options and deals at the web link below:

https://www.rockhurst.edu/visit/hotels

To get you and your delegation started on things to do here and places to visit, the Rockhurst Team has created a survey. Complete the form and we will share the results in a later newsletter.

Interest Survey

More information on the schedule and other details will be forthcoming after the new year. Registration will open in mid-January 2026.

Any questions related to the Annual Conference can be directed to:

• Briana Maturi, bmaturi@lmu.edu, Program Co-Chair
• Sonya Alexander, salexander3@fairfield.edu, Program Co-Chair
• Breyanna Primous, breyanna.primous@rockhurst.edu, Host Committee Co-Chair
• Taryn James, taryn.james@rockhurst.edu, Host Committee Co-Chair
   

JASPA Pipeline Stewardship

As many of you know, JASPA’s Pipeline Stewardship committee focuses on building
relationships with graduate preparation programs at our member institutions and developing pipelines of aspiring professionals into our graduate studies programs and into careers in Jesuit higher education. Currently, we have three initiatives underway.

1. Identifying and convening our faculty of our graduate preparation programs to discuss common needs and opportunities including prospective student recruitment.

Action item: If you know who the graduate preparation program faculty are on your
campus, please email faculty names and emails to Alvin Navarro Mangosing, anmangosing@sfsu.edu, chair of the Pipeline Stewardship’s graduate prep program committee.

2. Promoting careers in Jesuit higher education by identifying those alumni of our JASPA institutions who have chosen careers in Jesuit higher education. We hope to profile these student affairs educators and leaders in upcoming JASPA newsletters.

Action item: Complete this survey indicating that you are an alum of a Jesuit college(s) or university(ies).

3. Creating summer 2026 internship opportunities for graduate students at our JASPA
member campuses.

Action item: Watch for the launch of this summer 2026 internship program in future newsletters. Please talk to your SSAO and colleagues to see if you have graduate student internship opportunities. Also, please encourage graduate students on your campuses and even non-Jesuit school campuses to apply for a summer internship opportunity at a JASPA campus. Encourage program faculty to also disseminate this new internship program to their graduate students. Internship opportunities will be solicited in December and graduate students can apply in mid-January. (We will be following a similar timeline as NODA and ACUHO-I.)

Please direct questions to:

• Molly Dugan, duganm@xavier.edu, Director of Student Integrity, Xavier University
• Doug Mc'Acy, douglasmcacy@creighton.edu, Director of Alumni Relations, Creighton University
   

JASPA Functional Area Networking (FAN) - Call for Leads

Are you interested in becoming more involved with JASPA?

Consider becoming a Functional Area Networking (FAN) Lead! If you're interested in becoming a FAN Lead, please email Sydney Begoun, Vice President for Networking, Service, and Recognition about interest at srbegoun@loyno.edu.

The Functional Area Networks in need of a lead include:

• Academic Support Services, Advising & Retention
• Assistant/Associate Vice Presidents & Dean of Students
• Commuter Student Services
• Event Services
• Global Studies
• Health & Wellness
• Ministry, Spirituality & Service
• New Student Programs/Orientation, First Year Programming and Family Programming 
• Social Justice, BDEI & LGBTQIA+
• Student Conduct
• Student Engagement
   

NJSLC 2026 @ Xavier University

Dates: July 13-16, 2026
Host School: Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
Theme: "Queen City with a Jesuit Heart"

About NJSLC: The National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference (NJSLC) is a multi-day conference for all 28 Jesuit colleges and universities that are members of JASPA. A different Jesuit institution hosts the conference every summer. The conference provides student leaders with collaborative opportunities to develop ideas, explore issues, and build stronger leadership skills to better serve their institutions in the Jesuit tradition. NJSLC consists of keynotes, workshops, group discussions, social programming and opening and closing banquets.

About the Theme and Cincinnati: Our colleagues and students at Xavier University are excited to host NJSLC for the second time since the conference began in 1997 at Regis University. The conference theme is a nod to how many fondly refer to Xavier's home in Cincinnati as “The Queen City.” Cincinnati was given this name in the early 19th century as a reference to its prosperity and geographical location between the east and west. Today, locals use this name to reflect a sense of pride in its culture, neighborly atmosphere, and big city amenities.
 

Upcoming Programs