Fordham University’s Campus Ministry and the Alpha Sigma Nu honor society hosted the annual “Living the Mission” panel on Oct. 9, an event designed to help students engage with the university’s Jesuit values through personal reflections shared by faculty, administrators and students. This year, the event was co-hosted by Smart Woman Securities, and gathered about 70 attendees for a catered evening of reflection and conversation.
Father John Cecero, S.J., who played a central role in organizing the event, reflected on the origins of the panel.
“This is one of Alpha Sigma Nu’s signature annual events, in collaboration with Campus Ministry,” Cecero said. The panel began four years ago when a student leader and Deputy Chief of Staff Vanessa Rotondo developed the idea of inviting campus leaders to share how they live out the Jesuit mission. The event has since become one of Fordham’s efforts to encourage students to reflect on their role in contributing to the greater good. Cecero shared that the planning committee intentionally chooses a diverse lineup of speakers. “It’s important to invite speakers who represent different areas of work — this year’s panel featured a faculty member, an administrator and a student,” he said.
The panelists were Lerzan Aksoy, Ph.D., dean of the Gabelli School of Business; Roger Milici, vice president of development and university relations; and AnnaMarie Pacione, FCRH ’26. The panelists shared their insights, highlighting the broad and inclusive nature of Jesuit education. The evening was moderated by Cecero, who also offered reflections on the event’s goals.
Cecero further emphasized that Fordham’s mission goes beyond familiar phrases, noting that it is best communicated through personal stories of reflection. “Communicating Fordham’s mission is not just a matter of pithy and familiar phrases,” he said. “It is best communicated through personal stories from people who have reflected upon it in their own lives and discovered its meaning for their personal and professional lives.”
Aksoy’s remarks centered around the Jesuit value of cura personalis — care for the whole person. As the dean of the Gabelli School of Business, Aksoy strives to shape future leaders who embody the Jesuit principles of competence, compassion and justice. “Our students are the hope and promise of a brighter future,” she remarked, highlighting her dedication to educating students who will bring Fordham’s mission into their professional lives. Aksoy emphasized that these discussions help students reflect on their own role in contributing to the greater good and becoming a force for positive change.
“Education at Fordham is not just about academic achievement, but also about personal and ethical development — something we believe is essential to true leadership,” Aksoy said.
Aksoy also highlighted the need to engage more students in future panels, noting that greater participation would foster a deeper sense of community and belonging. “We need to better market what the Jesuit values really are — keys to success in life, regardless of the faith you hold,” she said, stressing the universality of the Jesuit mission’s core principles.
Milici reflected on what it means to live the Jesuit mission from the perspective of a senior administrator. For him, the mission is not just a guiding principle — it is a daily practice. “Living the mission for me is invitational,” Milici shared. “Each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to encounter and model what Fordham’s Jesuit and Catholic mission means for them.” He explained that this alignment with the mission shapes his words, actions and motivation to wake up each morning, knowing the good that Fordham does for its community and the world at large.
Milici shared how his department’s work in development and alumni relations reflects the values of service and community central to the Jesuit tradition. He shared examples of donors whose contributions support Fordham’s mission-driven projects, such as a seven-figure gift to Campus Ministry that funds Global Outreach and student retreats. “Every year we organize a memorial Mass for deceased alumni so that their loved ones can return to campus and keep their memory alive,” he added.
One of the central themes of the panel was to foster a sense of community and shared purpose among students and staff. Milici reflected on the unifying power of such gatherings.“ “About 70 students and some faculty and staff gathered to listen and to engage the panelists in a conversation that was candid, respectful and unifying,” he said. “And we did this around a meal. That is the essence of community.” This also highlights the Jesuit emphasis on communion — coming together as a community to reflect on shared values and aspirations. The dialogue of the event invited students to reflect on their own experiences and consider how they might embody the Jesuit mission in their personal and professional lives.
Fordham events like “Living the Mission” aim to provide students with an opportunity to engage with the university’s Jesuit values. The panel will return in the spring with a new set of speakers to continue the dialogue around what it means to live the Jesuit mission in today’s world.
