Buffalo, NY - Canisius University President Steve Stoute traveled to Loyola University New Orleans on Feb. 17 to join four other Catholic university presidents in a discussion about the evolving landscape of Catholic higher education in America. The "Five Presidents Forum" brought together distinguished leaders at a pivotal moment when Catholic institutions are increasingly entrusting their educational apostolates to lay leadership.
The event, sponsored by the Rev. Stephen J. Duffy Chair in Catholic Studies and moderated by Rev. Bentley Anderson, SJ, explored critical themes including formation, mission alignment, the changing priorities of younger generations, and the role of Catholic academia in reaching the marginalized.
During the 90-minute discussion, President Stoute offered his insights on creating inclusive dialogue within Catholic institutions and spoke about the importance of maintaining Catholic identity while evolving to meet contemporary needs, specifically the need to examine and potentially reform traditional processes and systems to better serve today's diverse student population.
“The more important part of being a Black man who leads a Catholic institution in Western New York is creating the space that allows our community to ask critical questions,” said Stoute. "Why do we do things a certain way? Why are our processes, our protocols, our systems set up to serve students we no longer really attract?"
President Stoute participated in the Five Presidents Forum alongside presidents Xavier Cole (Loyola University New Orleans), Robert Kelly (University of Portland), Vincent Rougeau (College of the Holy Cross), and Reynold Verret (Xavier University of Louisiana). It marked one of the first times that five African American leaders of Catholic institutions gathered to share their perspectives on Catholic higher education and its future.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
