Phenoms Under 40 - CUA Magazine - The Catholic University of ...

Photo: Jerald Anderson, University of Mary1995, Father Shea enrolled at CatholicUniversity upon receiving the Theodore B.Basselin Scholarship, a three-year academicscholarship offered to CUA seminarystudents who show promise in publicspeaking and the study of philosophy. Heearned his bachelor’s degree in philosophyin 1997 and his Licentiate inPhilosophy in 1999.“When I called to talk to the admissionspeople, I wanted to know if it was possibleto ever leave the campus and go and seethings in Washington,” Father Shea recallsabout his initial visit to CUA’s campus. “Iwas so green, I really had no understandingof the city. I had never seen public transportation,like the Metro, before. It was theawakening to a whole new world.”Catholic University is where the priestsays he fell in love with education, partlybecause of the CUA courses he took andpartly through his experience preparingstudents at two D.C. schools for their firstconfessions.“What was very gratifying was that inthe process of instructing them, I didn’tknow if I was doing anything worthwhileor not,” he explains. “On the last day, whenthey made their first confessions, it was sobeautiful and everything came together.“That taught me the lesson that inteaching, you’re making a difference simplyby being faithful and by being present.Then the work that you do does bearfruit and you’re not necessarily responsiblefor all the fruit. I didn’t know that before. Ithought that it all depended on me andthat I needed to see the progress as ithappened. But I learned that’s not actuallyhow it works. That was a valuable lesson.”After studying theology at the PontificalGregorian University in Rome, Shea wasordained a priest in 2002 and was appointedto serve as an associate pastor in Bismarckand a chaplain and instructor at St. Mary’sCentral High School, also in Bismarck.As the time came for Father Shea toassume his university presidency, he says hefelt a mix of excitement and nervousness,though he felt peace in knowing that this iswhat the Lord wants for him.“I’ll have to be here, not just as a president,but as a student of the position,”he says. “This is a huge adventure I’membarking on.”Other University Presidents WhoAre CUA AlumsNumerous CUA alumni have gone on to become presidents of universitiesand colleges in the United States. Here are 15 of the current presidents,listed with their CUA degree and the name of the institution they lead:Rev. Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S., J.D. 1992Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo.Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., M.A. (in drama) 1983Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.William Fahey, M.A. and Ph.D. (in early Christian studies) in1995 and 2003, respectivelyThomas More College of Liberal Arts, Merrimack, N.H.Mark A. Heckler, M.F.A. (in drama with an emphasis on directing) 1979Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind.Mary Hines, M.A. and Ph.D. (in philosophy) in 1969 and 1981, respectivelyCarlow University, PittsburghRev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., S.T.D. (in theology) 1977Niagara University, Niagara, N.Y.Eugene J. McAllister, Ph.D. (in business and economics) 2003University of Great Falls, Great Falls, Mont.Rev. Kevin J. Mullen, O.F.M., Ph.D. (in theology) 1975Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y.Sister Anne Munley, I.H.M., M.A. (in sociology) 1973Marywood University, Scranton, Pa.Barbara E. Murphy, B.A. (in English) 1969Johnson State College, Johnson, Vt.Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., J.C.L. and J.C.D. (in canon law) in1987 and 1990, respectivelyThe Catholic University of AmericaRev. Stephen A. Privett, S.J., M.A. and Ph.D. (in theology) in1982 and 1985, respectivelyUniversity of San FranciscoRev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., Ph.L. (in philosophy) 1985Providence College, Providence, R.I.Stephen J. Sweeny, B.A. (in Spanish) 1966College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, N.Y.Raymond Yannuzzi, D.A. (in English) 1996Camden County College, Blackwood, N.J.S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 23