Jesuit Conference Names New Socius/Executive Secretary

The Jesuit Conference of the United States has appointed Fr. Gerard L. Stockhausen, S.J. to the position of Socius/Executive Secretary to the President and Director of Planning for the Jesuit Conference in Washington, D.C. Fr. Stockhausen, a member of the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus, will join the Jesuit Conference in the late summer. He will replace Fr. Thomas P. Gaunt, S.J. of the Maryland Province, who leaves the Jesuit Conference after nine years of service as Socius, and Fr. Charles F. Kelley of the New England Province after six years as Director of Planning.

“Gerry’s background and experience at the University of Detroit Mercy in creating a dynamic vision for the school will serve us well at the Jesuit Conference as we implement the recommendations of our strategic discernment process,” said Fr. Thomas H. Smolich, S.J., President of the Jesuit Conference. “As we make this transition, we also want to thank Tom and Charlie for all they have done on behalf of the Society of Jesus during their years of service on the Jesuit Conference staff.”

Currently the President of University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), Stockhausen’s new responsibilities will include serving as chief of staff and advising and working closely with the President and his staff to direct and coordinate a series of planning projects that will implement the apostolic choices made by the Society of Jesus in the United States in 2008.

Stockhausen has served as UDM president since July, 2004 and he was Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost there from 2000-2004. UDM experienced increases in both enrollment and academic stature during Stockhausen’s 10 years in Detroit and the University is consistently ranked in the top tier of Midwestern Master’s Universities by U.S. News & World Report. Under Stockhausen’s presidency, more than a dozen new academic programs were established, including five-year undergraduate/graduate programs in Business Administration, Physician’s Assistant, Teacher Education, Engineering, and Chemistry.

Stockhausen holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in social ethics and a Master of Divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California, and a master’s degree in mathematics and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Louis University.

The Jesuit Conference promotes the common goals and oversees the national and international projects of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the Jesuit Conference also provides liaison staffing among the ten provinces, various Jesuit-sponsored national associations, and the Society’s international headquarters in Rome.