Catholic Identity in Catholic Higher Education as Advanced by Presidents and Chief Mission Officers

Catholic identity in Catholic colleges and universities has been a neuralgic issue for church and school leaders alike. Differences in conceptualizations of Catholic identity abound during a time in the church when this issue continues to cause division within and among church and school communities. With fewer Catholic sisters, brothers, and priests leading Catholic colleges and universities, the proliferation of chief mission officers has increased steadily in the last 15-plus years. This qualitative study investigated how the president and chief mission officer advance Catholic identity. Seven schools in the mid-Atlantic region were visited, their presidents and chief mission officers interviewed, and data collected through field research and document review