John Mahoney emphasized the impact and values of Jesuit, Catholic liberal arts education at an event hosted by the Church in the 21st Century Center on Thursday night.
“If your education hasn’t changed you, we haven’t done our job,” said Mahoney, former director of admissions and vice provost for enrollment management at Boston College
Students and faculty gathered in Gasson Hall for a seminar titled “Liberal Arts Education in the Jesuit Tradition: A Wise Investment and a Rewarding Life” with Mahoney, BC ’79 and ’85, and Thomas Wesner, business law professor and BC ’89 and ’07.
College is the period bridging adolescence with the beginning of adulthood, according to Mahoney, preparing students to become productive members of society with the emotional and empathetic skills to lead a quality life.
“There’s a lot happening during those four years,” Mahoney said. “And it’s not just intellectual, it’s social, it’s emotional, it’s psychological, it’s spiritual.”
Mahoney said that the Jesuit liberal arts education strives to create service and community-oriented individuals, who work to not only better themselves but also do justice for those around them.
“A Jesuit education is not yours, it is to be given away,” Mahoney said.
Integrating Ignatian Pedagogical Principles—clearly defined modes of learning and a basis for finding God in all things—is a foundation of BC education, Wesner added.
Wesner provided an example of how he integrated these principles in a law course by asking students to write opinions as if they were judges and incorporating questions about discernment and reflection.
“It’s just a joy to teach here because of who our students are and who they become,” Wesner said.
Wesner said that in his classroom, he seeks to be a mentor for students.
“We are only successful based on who our students become,” Wesner said.
In addition to preparing students for their careers, Mahoney said BC seeks to educate them on moral values and gaining an appreciation for the arts. His own BC education allowed him to better understand the beauty of art, he said, while allowing him to settle on his eventual career path—working as a teacher to working in admissions.
“I’m convinced it was my BC education that made me a candidate they decided to hire right out of college,” Mahoney said.
Mahoney emphasized the long-term impact of a Jesuit education on students becoming well-rounded individuals with the ability to excel in any career, regardless of their major.
“One of the Jesuit models is educating men and women for others,” Mahoney said.
The environment is meant to foster what Mahoney refers to as “the great conversation,” in which students can hold intelligent, respectful debates and be expressive of their beliefs, while also allowing students to become life-long learners and hone their curiosity.
Quoting Rev. Michael J. Himes, S.J., Wesner asked the audience, “What are you good at? What brings you joy? What does the world call you to do?”
