From June 8 through June 11, John Carroll University welcomed marketing and communications leaders from seventeen Jesuit colleges and universities across the country for the annual Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) Marketing and Communications Summit. The gathering provided an opportunity for colleagues to share ideas, explore emerging trends, and strengthen partnerships across the Jesuit higher education network.
Throughout the week, attendees engaged in discussions on communications and website best practices, the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence, and strategies for modernizing an institutional brand while remaining grounded in the Jesuit tradition.
In addition to summit sessions, AJCU members also had the opportunity to meet with members of the John Carroll leadership team and explore the Greater Cleveland community. Highlights included touring JCU’s campus with current students, visiting the world-renowned Cleveland Museum of Art, and an evening downtown at Cleveland's popular East 4th Street, where participants gained a deeper appreciation for all that Northeast Ohio has to offer college students.
During a session on artificial intelligence policies and use cases, participants explored how AI can both help communicators arrive at solutions faster and pose privacy and security challenges.
“During the week I spent at John Carroll for the annual AJCU Summit, I learned that among the AJCU Marcom leaders, there were varying levels of optimism and adoption of AI,” said Lynn Griffith, Chief Marketing and Communication Officer at Marquette University. “However, there is a universal belief that Jesuit universities have a unique ability to ensure the 'human in the loop' in AI integration, if we can meet the moment.”
Leaders like Griffith noted the advantages that Jesuit universities offer in the age of AI, thanks to their emphasis on skills like discernment, ethical leadership, and critical thinking. These skills help students navigate misinformation, solve complex problems, and make thoughtful decisions in rapidly changing environments.
Equally important is the Jesuit commitment to cura personalis, or care for the whole person. This human-centered approach to education emphasizes intellectual, moral, spiritual, and social development, ensuring that graduates are prepared not only for successful careers but also for lives of purpose and service.
“As higher education faces a time of remarkable change, the opportunity to collaborate and engage with colleagues who share our centuries-old Jesuit mission is incredibly valuable,” said
Meghan Dubyak, Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications at Georgetown University. “John Carroll provided a great setting for us to not only exchange best practices, but also deepen our collective commitment to the values that define us.”
The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) is a network of 28 Jesuit institutions that are located in 17 states, the District of Columbia, and Belize. In addition to the annual Marketing and Communications Summit, AJCU members frequently collaborate through shared resources, leadership opportunities, and mission-driven initiatives.
“It was a privilege to host my AJCU colleagues on our campus this year,” said Sarah Forrer, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications at John Carroll. “Having attended previous summits at Saint Louis University, Regis, and Scranton since joining JCU in 2021, I’ve seen firsthand how these gatherings strengthen our collective impact. More than just exchanging best practices, this week underscored our shared mission: to educate the next generation while staying anchored in the values of Jesuit education. We were reminded that 'accompaniment'—that act of walking shoulder-to-shoulder—isn't just a mission-driven preference, it’s a powerful differentiator that empowers our students and leadership alike.”
Today, more than 2 million people across the globe are alumni of U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities, making it one of the largest and most influential educational networks worldwide.
For John Carroll, hosting this year’s summit offered an opportunity to strengthen relationships with peer institutions and contribute to ongoing conversations about the future of higher education.
“It was wonderful to spend such a meaningful week at John Carroll with colleagues from across the AJCU network,” said Deanna Howes Spiro, Vice President of Communications for the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. “Sarah Forrer and her team did an incredible job hosting and planning a variety of sessions and events that helped us continue to grow together in our roles as communicators of our shared Jesuit mission and identity."
“There is incredible strength in the AJCU network,” said Jeremy Thompson, Vice President for Communications & Marketing for College of the Holy Cross. “It was energizing to spend time with — and learn from — our peers at other Jesuit schools, and I left the summit with a renewed sense of purpose.”
While each Jesuit institution is unique in its identity and strengths, they are all united by a shared mission of educating men and women for and with others. The summit served as a reminder that through collaboration and shared purpose, Jesuit institutions continue to shape the future of higher education by preparing students to address society’s most pressing issues while contributing to the common good.
