STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—Franciscan University of Steubenville will enhance its efforts to form highly skilled, virtuous Catholic leaders with the launch of the Leadership Institute at Franciscan University this fall. The Leadership Institute, part of the University’s new strategic plan, reflects Franciscan’s commitment to help form students whose leadership will have a positive impact in the marketplace and help rebuild the Church.

The Leadership Institute at Franciscan University recognizes that God calls each student to identify and pursue his or her special talents with passion and then to embrace leadership roles in science, technology, business, nursing, education, or other career fields, as well as in family life, religious life, the priesthood, or Church ministry. The Leadership Institute will help students answer that call by forming them in leadership craft illuminated by Franciscan virtues and Catholic social teaching.

As it ramps up over the next two years, the Leadership Institute will offer an executive leadership speaker series, develop and facilitate leadership workshops grounded in Christian virtues, establish a center dedicated to Catholic social teaching in the workplace, sponsor visiting fellows on Franciscan’s campus, and launch an Entrepreneurship Program.

The Leadership Institute at Franciscan University is led by Executive Director Doug Perry, who has served as an executive in residence at Franciscan University and as chairman of the University’s Business Advisory Board. Earlier in his career, Perry was the Vice President for Global Compliance at Honeywell International Inc. and a partner at the law firms of Sheppard Mullin and Fried Frank.

“Today’s culture too often emphasizes social change over individual accountability and ethics grounded in virtuous lives,” said Perry. “As Catholics, we are called to be servant leaders—to speak the truth and to lead with courage, modesty, and integrity. The Leadership Institute will help the Franciscan community embrace a conscious leadership role grounded in the teachings of Christ.”

One of the institute’s most highly anticipated offerings is the Entrepreneurship Program that will lead to an academic minor in entrepreneurship. Slated to launch in fall 2022, the Entrepreneurship Program will be open to students of all majors and offer courses in accounting, finance, marketing, and other fields important to launching and growing a new business.

Dr. Thomas Kelly, Chair of the Franciscan University Business Department, said, “The Entrepreneurship Program gives Franciscan University a unique opportunity to affect the way small businesses are created by sending forth entrepreneurs guided by Catholic social teaching, fueled by a relentless drive for innovation, and dedicated to building up the kingdom of God. Our students, like generations of successful Franciscan alumni entrepreneurs before them, will be well equipped to establish for-profit and not-for-profit entities as well as ministries that rebuild our Church and our world.”

For more information on the Leadership Institute at Franciscan University, visit franciscan.edu/leadership-institute or email [email protected].