Dear friends in Catholic education,

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:3)

With a full and grateful heart, I write to share an important personal and professional announcement. At the conclusion of this calendar year, I will retire from my roles as Director of the Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education (ITCE) and Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at The Catholic University of America.

This decision comes after forty years of joyful service to Catholic schools, dioceses, and educational leaders across the country. When I reflect on these decades, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the people, the places, the conversations, and the countless moments where faith and formation met real lives in real communities. Serving Catholic education has never felt like “work” alone; it has been a vocation, a mission, and a profound privilege.

I am grateful to Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, President of CUA, and Dr. Jacqueline Leary-Warsaw, Interim Dean and Ordinary Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, for their leadership and steadfast support of ITCE and Lumen Accreditation. I am also especially thankful for the extraordinary ITCE team of Andrew, Todd, Keelan, and Jordan. The successes of ITCE and Lumen Accreditation have always been a team effort, and I will miss our collaboration and shared joy in this work.

Most of all, I thank my family that includes my wife, Jill; my children, Maggie and Maxx; my daughter-in-law, Lauren; and my grandchildren, Lily, John, and Tom. I look forward to the next chapter of life, spending more time being “Papi” to Lily, John, and Tom.

I share this news now to ensure a smooth transition. A search process is being formed for the next director of ITCE, and I remain fully committed to supporting a smooth and thoughtful transition.

Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your faithful witness in Catholic education.