Centers, Institutes and Special Offices

Bernard J. Lonergan Institute

Jonathan R. Heaps, Ph.D., Director

Bernard Lonergan, S.J. (1904-1984) was an influential Catholic philosopher and theologian whom Newsweek magazine cited as among “the finest philosophical thinkers of the 20th century.” In November 2006 the Center for Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University inaugurated the Bernard J. Lonergan Institute dedicated to the study of the great thinker’s ideas and their application in contemporary culture. The founding director of the institute, Monsignor Richard Liddy, was a student of Lonergan’s and has written books and papers about the Jesuit theologian. It is currently directed by Jonathan Heaps, PhD, an internationally recognized expert in Lonergan's thought. 

The Institute’s mission includes creating a repository of Lonergan’s work, conducting seminars and workshops related to his thought and, in general, promoting the transformation of culture through what Thomas Aquinas called natural and supernatural wisdom.

The Institute also publishes The Lonergan Review, an annual peer-reviewed journal that explores the work of Bernard Lonergan. The journal’s mission is to link explicit self-knowledge - Lonergan’s “self-appropriation” - with the various academic disciplines and professions. It seeks to foster authentic human culture of high ideals, open to religion, the Catholic intellectual tradition and service to the poor. For more information about the Bernard J. Lonergan Institute and other Catholic Studies programs, visit shu.edu/lonergan/

Center for Africana Studies

Stephanie Harris, Ph.D., Director

The Center for Africana Studies, established at the University in 1970, works in cooperation with the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and other groups to encourage serious scholarship committed to social change and human rights. The center seeks to involve the entire University in an appreciation of the black experience and places a balanced emphasis on traditional scholarship as well as experiential and co-curricular activities, such as guest lectures, internships, study abroad trips and community activism.

Center for Catholic Studies

Patrick Manning, Ph.D., Director

The Center for Catholic Studies was founded in 1997 to foster an ongoing dialogue between the Catholic intellectual tradition and all areas of study and contemporary culture. In the spirit of the Catholic Church's legacy of bringing forth things "new and old," the Center's scholarly research, publications, and programming serve to generate new initiatives and facilitate conversation and collaboration among faculty, administrators, students, and the general public. The primary function of the Center is to foster the Catholic mission of Seton Hall in creative ways. It endeavors to be an incubator for innovative initiatives in promoting Catholic identity across the university. It fulfills this role for diverse demographics within the university in five principal areas: Faculty Development, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Intellectual Life, Student Engagement, and Ongoing Innovation. 

The Center maintains a global focus in international scholarship. It houses the G.K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture, The Bernard J. Lonergan Institute, and the Micah Institute for Business and Economics. It publishes two academic journals: The Lonergan Review and The Chesterton Review. The Center is also the home of the Toth-Lonergan Endowed Professorship in Interdisciplinary Studies which supports a visiting professor each year at Seton Hall to assist in mission integration. For more information about the Center for Catholic Studies, visit shu.edu/catholic-studies-center/

Center for Computational Research

Stephen Kelty, Ph.D., Director

The Center for Computational Research’s mission is to complement existing and future basic and applied research being conducted at Seton Hall University through the use of computer-based modeling and simulation tools provided by the center, thereby enhancing the research capabilities and competitiveness of the university. Research collaborations exist with faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Department of Physics.

Center for Diaconal Formation

Deacon Richard Ferreira, M.S.W,, M.A., Director

Part of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University, the Center for Diaconal Formation was founded in 2010 to provide graduate-level formation, in person or online, in English or Spanish, for permanent diaconate candidates. The program is consistent with the intellectual norms established in the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States (Second Edition, 2021). A student matriculated into the Center’s graduate-level program (12 courses; 36 credits) upon successful completion receives a Master’s Degree in Theology with a Systematic concentration and/or a Certificate in Diaconal Studies. Course curriculum is delivered in English or Spanish at the main campus in South Orange and at three off-campus locations: St. Paul Inside the Walls, 205 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ; St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway, NJ; and the Chancery of the Diocese of Trenton, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ. For remote sending dioceses, course curriculum is delivered online. In addition to graduate-level courses, the Center for Diaconal Formation offers workshops, lectures and presentations for permanent diaconate candidates and their wives, covering a wide variety of topics that address the spiritual, pastoral and human dimensions of diaconal formation, as well as post-ordination diaconal formation and continuing education needs.

For more information about the Center for Diaconal Formation, visit shu.edu/diaconal-formation/ or contact Deacon Richard Ferreira, M.S.W, M.A. '22, Director, at (973) 313-6335.

Center for Faculty Development

Mary Balkun, Ph.D., Director

The Seton Hall University Center for Faculty Development provides services and programs that meet the needs of faculty in the areas of teaching, service, and scholarship over the course of their career at the university. In addition to supporting existing programs offered by departments and schools/colleges, it offers complementary resources and workshops in such areas as scholarly writing, instructional best practices, and work/life balance.

Center for Foreign Policy Studies

Ann Marie Murphy, Ph.D., Director

The Center for Foreign Policy Studies serves as a hub for research, teaching and training in the foreign policy domain. It is committed to policy-relevant scholarship exploring the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and how states across the world respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. Through its joint research, teaching and programming activities, the Center aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to prepare them to become effective policymakers, analysts, and advocates.

Center for Functional Materials

Sergiu M. Gorun, Ph.D., Director

The CFM fosters modern STEM research and education. The CFM is entirely funded by grants and contracts with the Federal Government. Students and faculty are supported financially and professionally to generate and disseminate their scholarship via publications and presentations at meetings, while also protecting their intellectual property via patents. Collaborations with scientists and students affiliated with premier US and foreign Universities are part of the Center’s supported activities.

Center for Global Health Studies

Yanzhong Huang, Ph.D., Director

The Center for Global Health Studies is a research center that is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of health issues from the perspectives of governance, diplomacy, security, human rights, trade and development. The center also serves as a resource center that not only promotes learning and engagement of scholars and students in global health, but also inform and educates policy makers, practitioners, journalists, and the general public on global health issues. Through research, publication and outreach activities, the center aims to raise the academic profile of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations and contribute to Seton Hall’s reputation as a preeminent institution addressing important global issues.

Center for Interprofessional Education in Health Sciences

Genevieve Pinto Zipp, PT, Ed.D., FNAP, Director

The Center for Interprofessional Education in Health Sciences (CIEHS) emerged from strategic planning by the School of Health and Medical Sciences' (SHMS) faculty-led Task Force on Interprofessional Education (IPE). It aims to create meaningful cross-disciplinary educational and research experiences for students, faculty, and clinical partners that further develop SHMS' person-centered care mission.

The CIEHS Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) pursues innovative research opportunities and meaningful scholarship activities rooted in a team science approach to advance IPE. The FAB developed and continues to oversee the Center's interprofessional "Journey of Professional Transformation" - a curriculum that supports continuous personal and professional growth, immersion in ground-breaking innovations, and synergistic collaboration among health professions.

This journey engages SHMS students in 5 Core Signature IPE Experiences and 4 Online Asynchronous Learning Modules, offering graduate students with a rich, two-year continuum of IPE engagement. Through these experiences, our health professions students learn with and from one another about person-centered care and each profession's role within the healthcare team.

The overall objective of CIEHS is to support students' growth in teamwork, communication, collaboration, and appreciation of diverse roles and responsibilities across health professions. Each learning experience designed by the FAB, fosters a person-centered model of care by helping students recognize the interdependency among healthcare professionals.

A cornerstone of the CIEHS is to extend interprofessional engagement across and beyond the Seton Hall community, cultivate student growth as healthcare professionals, and contribute the scholarly knowledge that shapes the future of healthcare and health professions education.

 

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Susan Scherreik, M.B.A., Director

The Center of Innovation an Entrepreneurship was created in 2003 to raise student awareness of self-employment as a career option and to foster entrepreneurial spirit throughout the campus. The center encourages the collaboration of faculty, students, alumni and entrepreneurs in a variety of activities and projects to advance hands-on entrepreneurial learning. The center sponsors the Pirates Pitch business model competition that awards $16,000 annually in prizes to students with innovative business ideas/startups. The center is integral to the Stillman School’s mandate to prepare students for careers in the 21st century by acknowledging the growing importance of entrepreneurship in the global economy. For more information, visit the center's webpage.

Center for Mobile Research and Innovation

Michael A. Taylor, Ph.D., Director

The Center for Mobile Research and Innovation (CMRI) fosters the investigation of mobile technology through the creation of original research, the promotion of critical partnerships, the development and support of innovative initiatives, and the dissemination of knowledge. CMRI conducts academic research that examines the diverse and complex impact of mobile technology on society through objective assessment and evaluation, and structured pilot programs.

CMRI promotes the development and distribution of applications and services designed to define the next generation of mobile growth, as well as to contribute to the evolution of platform ecosystems and their innovative implementation.

Seton Hall University is a pioneer in the use of technology in higher education and has an institutional commitment to experiential learning and servant leadership. Within this rich setting, CMRI offers formal and informal educational programming, targeting all segments of the community.

For more information about the Center for Mobile Research and Innovation, call (862) 253-6182.

Center for Peace and Conflict Studies

Zheng Wang, Ph.D., Director

The Center for Peace and Conflict Studies promotes interdisciplinary research on a wide range of topics related to peace and conflict with an emphasis on conflict prevention, management, resolution, and post-conflict peace building and reconstruction. The center is committed to advancing the understanding of social conflict, global peace and conflict issues through multidisciplinary, multilevel, and multicultural approaches. Through the center’s ongoing research projects as well as education and practice activities, faculty, students, alumni and colleagues work together to develop the interdisciplinary field of peace and conflict studies. The center aims to improve the cooperation and exchange among faculty members and between faculty and students on issues of peace and conflict studies. The center is also used as a platform to apply for external grants and fellowships and to conduct international exchange between the School of Diplomacy and International Relations and academic institutes of other countries.

In recent years, the Center has received multiple external grants from prestigious foundations. The CPCS’ focus areas include Asia-Pacific peace and security and U.S.-China relations, Catholic and religious peacemaking, and diplomacy and conflict resolution training and mentoring.

Center for Public Service

Adam Kuczynski, J.D., Ph.D., Director

The Center for Public Service is the University’s arm for outreach programs to the public and nonprofit sectors. Housing the Nonprofit Sector Resource Institute, the center runs a variety of programs to place members of the University community into closer contact with the public and nonprofit organizations that surround us. The center facilitates student internship and practicum placement, organizes speakers and seminars throughout the year, and serves as a clearinghouse for the nonprofit community of Northern New Jersey.

Center for Securities Trading and Analysis

Mark Schild, M.B.A., CFP, Director

The Center for Securities Trading and Business Analytics provides students with a professional, market‑driven learning environment that mirrors the work of security analysts, portfolio managers, financial planners, and corporate treasurers. More than 850 students use the center each semester, taking advantage of dedicated Bloomberg terminals and gaining hands‑on experience through activities such as managing the student‑run investment fund (“Hall Street Fund”) and competing in the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

Bloomberg Professional Workstations deliver real‑time market data, while wall‑mounted displays provide continuous global financial news and performance metrics. The center also showcases the student‑managed investment portfolio—valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars—allowing students to monitor performance alongside broader market trends.

Our laboratory‑style setting encourages collaboration, experimentation, and the practical application of concepts from accounting, finance, economics, business analytics, and international business. The center is open to all students interested in developing investment ideas or conducting applied research.

The program’s five majors—Finance, Mathematical Finance, Finance & Technology, Financial Mathematics, and Wealth Management—integrate theoretical knowledge with real‑world practice. Four of these majors are affiliated with the CFA Institute, giving students direct exposure to industry‑aligned curriculum and experiential learning.

Students gain practical experience through class projects, the student‑managed investment fund, the Jim and Judy O’Brien Capital Markets Colloquium, and the CFA Institute Research Challenge. They work with both quantitative and qualitative data drawn from the center’s dynamic information feeds.

Industry professionals regularly visit the center to discuss current market developments and career opportunities across financial services. Through this blend of academic rigor, professional insight, and applied learning, students develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.

Center for Sport Management

Charles Grantham, M.B.A., Director

The Center for Sport Management, established in 1996, serves as the center for sport management expertise, nationally and internationally, at the undergraduate, graduate and industry levels. The center offers a cutting-edge approach to sport management education from a business school perspective, offering the B.S.B., the M.B.A., graduate certificates and executive education covering all facets of the sport industry.

In Fall 2006, the center opened the new Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted by the Sharkey Institute. Founded with a major donation from alumnus Tom Sharkey and his wife Ruth, Seton Hall Sports Poll surveys the public on ethical and moral questions regarding current issues in sport and brings national interest to Seton Hall.

Located in the heart of the sport industry, the Center for Sport Management at Seton Hall University provides students with unparalleled internship opportunities in the major and minor leagues, major sports facilities, sport marketing firms, league offices and more; the center takes advantage of its unique location by using industry professionals as instructors and guest lecturers in the classroom. Visit the shu.edu/sport-management/ for more information.

Center for United Nations and Global Governance Studies

Reverend Brian Muzás, Ph.D., Director

The Center for United Nations and Global Governance Studies serves as both a coordinating hub for research and a site for institutional development. The Center builds research networks internally among faculty and students in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations and externally with scholars, practitioners, and prospective stakeholders. Through digital platforms and public scholarship, the Center disseminates knowledge about the United Nations and other international actors. It shares research and analysis through varied formats, including social media, that are accessible to academic, policy, and public audiences. The Center’s activities include invited speakers and collaborative research projects that produce articles and policy memos. In addition, the Center provides administrative and programmatic support for United Nations initiatives at the School of Diplomacy, including the United Nations Intensive Summer Study Program and the United Nations Field Seminar, facilitates student participation in United Nations meetings and conferences, and supports student training and public scholarship initiatives connected to faculty research and teaching. For more information, please visit shu.edu/un-global-governance-studies/.

Center for Vocation and Servant Leadership

Rev. Colin Kay, Director

God calls each of us, and every call is in some way a call to serve. The Center for Vocation and Servant Leadership promotes openness to God’s call in both the academic life and common life of Seton Hall University to support the overall mission of forming students as servant leaders in a global society.

The Center began in 2003 supported by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. It currently offers programming for students and professional development for faculty and administrators.

For students it offers a scholarship and leadership program called the Servant Leader Scholarship. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA, complete 20 hours of service each semester and participate in scheduled meetings and events.

The Center offers a series of three Mission Seminars for faculty and administrators.  The mission integration that is offered culminates in the Praxis Program where foundational principles are learned that enhance the application of the University’s mission to the disciplines.

The Center also offers an annual series of retreats for faculty and administrators, and cosponsors other faculty development programs with various departments across the campus.

Charles and Joan Alberto Italian Studies Institute

Gabriella Romani, Ph.D., Director

The Charles and Joan Alberto Italian Studies Institute was founded in 2003 to coordinate Seton Hall University’s many activities relating to Italian and Italian-American history and culture. The Institute sponsors cultural events, such as lectures and symposia, and promotes curriculum development and community outreach. Additionally, the institute administers several scholarships that are made available to students in Italian Studies and offers a Visiting Fellowship to international scholars. The mission of the institute is to spread the message of the universal relevance and inclusiveness of the Italian contributions to the history of the world and of America, regardless of nationality and ethnic background. For more information contact Dr. Romani at gabriella.romani@shu.edu or (973) 275-2926 or visit shu.edu/alberto-institute/

Elizabeth Ann Seton Center for Women’s Studies

Vanessa May, Ph.D., and Karen Gevirtz, Ph.D., Co-Directors

The Elizabeth Ann Seton Center for Women’s Studies was established in the spirit of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose life of activism, spirituality and leadership serves as an inspiration to our community. The center is administered by the Women and Gender Studies Program, which also offers a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Through the program, the center is connected to a wide variety of university programs that are designed to foster a well-informed, rigorous conversation about gender issues and social justice. Consistent with the university’s commitment to preparing students for a life of servant leadership in a diverse, global environment, through the program, the center supports scholarship, professional training and internships. For more information, visit shu.edu/womens-studies/

G.K. Chesterton Institute for Faith and Culture

 Imagining a world with leaders rooted in Chestertonian ideals.

Gloria Garafulich-Grabois, DHS, Director & Managing Editor of The Chesterton Review
Dermot Quinn, D.Phil., editor of The Chesterton Review

G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was an English writer whose prolific output included philosophy, poetry, plays, journalism, lectures, literary criticism, biography, Christian apologetics and fiction. The G.K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture was founded in 1974 by Father Ian Boyd, CSB (RIP) and as of 1999 is based at Seton Hall University.  In 2024, the Institute celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The Institute promotes his thought and that of his intellectual circle. More broadly, it explores the application of his ideas to the contemporary world. Chesterton was one of the most versatile writers of his day, with an ability to write accessibly on a range of serious matters, making him a beloved figure. His thought has particular importance for those who value the sacramental tradition, Catholic social teaching, and Christian spirituality. His works have been translated into many languages and because his writings are increasingly the subject of study by students and scholars, they continue to reach new generations of readers. 

The purpose of the Institute is to promote the thought of G. K. Chesterton and his circle and, more broadly, to explore the application of Chestertonian ideas to the contemporary world through conferences and lecture series, seminars, research writing and the publication of The Chesterton Review—also founded by Father Ian Boyd—is a widely respected academic journal. As interest in Chesterton grows, The Chesterton Review is growing too. In response to the revival of Chesterton around the world, The Chesterton Review  publishes special editions in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French.

The outreach of the work of the Institute now includes a podcast “Speaking about Chesterton,” and a blog “Paradox, Wit & Wonder.” In 2025 to honor our founder’s lifelong work to promote G.K. Chesterton the Institute published a special collection of his essays entitled “An Earthly Story with a Heavenly Meaning—Father Ian Boyd’s Essays on G.K. Chesterton”

The G. K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture at Seton Hall University is considered the world center for Chesterton’s studies. The work of the Institute promotes the Catholic Intellectual Tradition which is at the center of the work of Seton Hall University.
For more information, please visit our website at shu.edu/chesterton/or contact the Institute, located in Walsh Library, Room 431, by phone at (973) 275-2431 or email chestertoninstitute@shu.edu.

Institute for Christian Spirituality

Dianne M. Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., Director

The Institute for Christian Spirituality was created by Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology to provide a premier center where those who serve in the Church today may obtain a solid foundation in their faith, learn effective skills in pastoral ministry and leadership and be given tools for discernment and spiritual growth – all in an atmosphere of collaboration and camaraderie.

The Institute’s mission is grounded in 2 Timothy 1:6: “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God within you.”

Begun in 2005 through a grant from the Lilly Endowment, the Institute accomplishes this goal through various programs, including the Center for Diaconal Formation, the Certificate Program in Catholic Evangelization (in collaboration with St. Paul Inside the Walls, Madison, NJ), and various joint initiatives with the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, Rome.

Institute for Communication and Religion

Jon Radwan, Ph.D., Director

The Institute for Communication and Religion (ICR) is an affiliated unit within Seton Hall University’s College of Human Development, Culture, and Media. Religious traditions are primary drivers for social action across humanity’s full moral range, from care through violence. Launched with THRUST funding in Fall 2017, the ICR is an interdisciplinary nexus for communication and media scholarship addressing the critical intersection between religion and society. Guided by Nostra Aetate’s spirit of ecumenical and interreligious cooperation, the Institute seeks to engage in public dialogue and debate, promote academic inquiry, and support religious dimensions of creativity. Our values are Seton Hall’s values: servant leadership, curricular innovation, and intellectual excellence.

Institute for International Business

Héctor R. Lozada-Vega, Ph.D., Director

The Institute for International Business serves as the center of international business expertise for students, faculty and the business community. It fosters the collaboration of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, to engage in a wide variety of activities and projects to advance the internationalization of the Stillman School of Business.

The institute sponsors international courses, lectures, internships and scholarly exchange for both students and faculty with several leading academic institutions as part of the mission of the Stillman School of Business. Endowed with a grant from the estate of W. Paul Stillman in 1994 to support its initiatives, the institute funds internationally focused faculty research.

At the undergraduate level, the institute offers a minor in international business in which the curriculum includes language and cultural components, as well as core business courses. 

Institute of Judaeo-Christian Studies

The Institute of Judaeo-Christian Studies, founded in 1953, is primarily a center for research and publication. Its area of study is the Church’s rootedness in Judaism and the relationship between the Church and the Jewish people through the ages. Its work includes an annual series of lectures, study days and conferences. These are intended to inform the general public about various facets of Christian- Jewish relations. A special lecture in the fall of each year celebrates the memory of Monsignor John M. Oesterreicher, founder of the Institute. He was an important collaborator in preparing the declaration by the Second Vatican Council on “The Church’s Bond with the Jewish People” (Nostra aetate).The institute also produces the radio program “The Kinship of Catholics and Jews”, which airs on the University’s radio station WSOU 89.5 FM.

The institute began a graduate program in Jewish-Christian studies in Fall 1975. In 1978, the program was incorporated into the College of Arts and Sciences; in 1979, it became a department within the College. In 2010 the department became the MA program in the Religion Department. The MA program and the institute are thus independent units, even though origin and goal bespeak an intimate relationship. The requirements for admission to the program and a description of the course offerings may be found at shu.edu/judaeo-christian-studies/

Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology

Sulie L. Chang, Ph.D., Director

The Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology (INIP) is a research institute established at Seton Hall University in 2007, with Dr. Sulie L. Chang as the founding Director. INIP is fully supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The institute is located on the third floor of the Science and Technology Center (McNulty Hall), in Rooms 309, 319, 320, and 321, with Room 321 serving as the INIP office. It functions as the administrative and research hub for all active and pending federal grants of scientists affiliated with the Institute. INIP is committed to advancing knowledge in neuroimmune pharmacology through research conducted in vivo, in vitro, and in silico, as well as through community service.

INIP’s research focuses on the interactions between the nervous and immune systems in health and disease, including addiction, neuroHIV, neuroCOVID-19, and alcohol-induced pain. The Institute organizes and sponsors national and international conferences and symposia and has contributed to early and ongoing efforts demonstrating the links between HIV infection, neuroHIV, and the use of addictive substances such as alcohol, morphine, methamphetamine, and nicotine. Through these activities, INIP promotes innovative methodological approaches, particularly the integration and cross-examination of experimental data from investigator-driven studies with publicly available datasets and curated knowledge bases using bioinformatics tools.

The INIP has continued sponsored and participated in the Academic Exposition at Seton Hall University. More recently, INIP has partnered with the Academy for Nature and Nurture: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Resilience (ANN) [https://www.shu.edu/provost/academy-for-nature-and-nurture.html], a university-funded interdisciplinary initiative. This collaboration demonstrates the active involvement of ANN’s core faculty, which includes INIP’s founding director, in cross-disciplinary research, mentoring, and community engagement.

INIP fosters collaboration across basic, clinical, and social sciences and is dedicated to advancing translational research from the laboratory to the community. The Institute emphasizes scientific integrity and ethical conduct, including implementation of “The INIP Proper Laboratory Conduct Contract” to uphold its standards of excellence. INIP supports faculty and student research and provides opportunities for participation in national and international scientific meetings. In addition, the Institute promotes global collaboration, including recent agreements (2024–2027) with the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan and JSS College of Pharmacy in India to advance education, training, and joint research initiatives.

For more information, visit the office in the Science and Technology Center (McNulty Hall) Room 321, call (973) 761 9456 or 973 432 2073

Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute

Lori Tarke, DHSc., M.Ed., Executive Director
Cristina Cosme, Assistant Director

The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute is dedicated to inspire, educate and transform our students into the next generation of servant leaders in our ever changing global society.

The Institute was created through a generous gift from our benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. and Carmen Ana Unanue. Built on a rich legacy of service to the Seton Hall Latino community, the Joseph A. Latino Institute had its genesis as the Puerto Rican and Dominican Institute, founded in the early 1970s.

Then and now, the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute welcomes all Seton Hall University students to immerse themselves in our rich history, culture and language while also understanding the unique needs of first generation Americans . It also promotes intellectual growth by inviting scholars and Latino leaders to campus; encourages our students to take on leadership roles guided by  our mentoring program; creates outreach programs, and develops students as humanitarians both locally and in Latin America.

The Institute aims to provide a space for innovation and dialogue, to encourage research and study of the Latino experience, with particular emphasis on literature and the arts, the sciences, healthcare, business and finance to further advance intercultural understanding.

In connection with the Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies Program, the Latino Institute offers wide-ranging cultural programming. In the interdisciplinary Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies major and minor, students engage with faculty experts and resources in modern languages, sociology, anthropology, religious studies, history and political science. For more information about the Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies Program, please e-mail Dr. Kirsten Schultz at kirsten.schultz@shu.edu.

The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute supports the Latino student organizations on campus by collaborating with, advising and publicizing their programs. For information, visit shu.edu/latino-institute/ or call (973) 761-9422.

Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas

Dianne M. Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., Liaison and Board Member

The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, Rome, and Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICSST), launched a formal partnership in 2018. The collaboration provides the Lay Centre with administrative support, financial oversight, programmatic synergies, and a more established presence in the United States. It gives ICSST a presence in Rome to help deacons, seminarians, and laity understand more deeply the universal Catholic Church, especially through summer programs, and to encourage professors from ICSST to conduct research in Rome during the academic year. The Lay Centre, founded in 1986, is dedicated to the formation of the laity and the development of their vocation in the Church and in the world.

LLC Global Learning Center

Jessica V. Wilson, M.A., Director

The Global Learning Center (GLC) is a campus academic support center under the Department of Languages, Literature and Cultures (LLC). The GLC facilitates the Language Placement Test, which levels students to the appropriate courses as they fulfill their Core Curriculum requirements or pursue LLC majors and minors, and coordinates free tutoring for language students by LLC instructors. The GLC also runs the Peer-Supported Language Assistance (PALS) program, which matches students who are native/advanced speakers of languages (including English/ESL) with LLC and ESL students looking for relaxed conversation practice to supplement their learning. Other GLC/LLC programming includes events such as foreign film showings, international karaoke, guest speaker presentations, Chinese New Year, Japan Week, and other cultural- and language-related activities. The Global Learning Center also supports the LLC's various honor societies and clubs and hosts From the Galley, an international cookbook by and for the SHU community.

Market Research Center

Adam Warner, M.B.A., Director

The Market Research Center provides a hands-on learning environment and programs for students to gain practical market research skills and experience. At the Center, students, faculty and business clients partner together on customized market research projects across a variety of industries.

Located on the 6th floor of Jubilee Hall, the center features state-of-the-art facilities including an interview/conference center, observation room and audio-visual recording equipment. Students learn transferable market research skills with the opportunity to conduct interviews, moderate focus groups, create web-based surveys, uncover insights and develop actionable solutions for real business clients.

Our programs are seamlessly integrated into many courses at the Stillman School of Business. However, to be better prepared to enter the profession, please explore our Market Research Certificate option.

For more information, for both students wishing to learn more about the Market Research Center or the Market Research Certificate, and businesses interested in learning more about partnering with the Market Research Center, please visit shu.edu/market-research/ or contact us directly at (973) 275-6489.

New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission

Alan Delozier, D.Litt., Executive Director

Founded in 1976, the New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission (NJCHC) is a tax-exempt organization, and its financial support is provided courtesy of the Roman Catholic hierarchy statewide. The NJCHC was formed to support scholarly and popular histories and projects related to various aspects of Catholicism within the State of New Jersey. The Commission also has a history of funding various history-centered projects related to Seton Hall University. The NJCHC program entails aiding with the creation and preservation of primary source documentation (both written and oral forms) in honor of Catholic individuals, institutions, agencies, and parishes statewide. In addition, the Commission has developed a public outreach program which endeavors to combine continued works in the form of public programming, research advice, and other initiatives related to the Church and various ecumenical-based projects. For more information about the NJCHC, visit https://blogs.shu.edu/njchc/ or contact Alan Delozier, Executive Director at: Alan.Delozier@shu.edu.

Nonprofit Sector Resource Institute

Adam Kuczynski, J.D., Ph.D., Director

The Nonprofit Sector Resource Institute (NSRI) serves to build the capacity of the nonprofit sector in New Jersey and nationally by training leaders in the areas of board leadership, financial fluency and nonprofit governance, by utilizing the resources of the Seton Hall University community in collaboration with recognized specialists in the nonprofit sector and business partners who are committed to bettering their communities.

The NSRI has developed a series of well-regarded programs serving both the nonprofit and corporate sectors over the years, including formal training sessions contracted with corporations and nonprofit groups, as well as workshops to share best practices and promote discussion and networking among sector participants.

Pre-Professional Advising Center

Chantal Vergara, MA, NCC, Director

The Pre-Professional Advising Center (P-PAC) was established in 2022 as a centralized resource hub for students interested in exploring, preparing, and applying to health professional schools. The P-PAC works with students to explore various health professions, assists with the preparation and development of becoming a strong professional school candidate, and provides guidance throughout the application process.  The P-PAC provides holistic one on one developmental advising, academic coaching, skill building workshops, health professions events/workshops, informational sessions, support groups, application cycle preparation and much more. The journey to professional school can be difficult to navigate and may look different for each scholar, which is why the P-PAC aims to provide a wide range of support and works with each student individually to create a personalized pathway to reach their professional goals. Students are welcomed to make a 1:1 appointment with the Director of PPAC via COMPASS or drop in during our designated “drop-in hours”. P-PAC peer advisors are also available to students. They are trained to provide peer support as scholars prepare for professional school. The PPAC has also organized the Pre-Health Advisory Committee which consists of SHU Faculty, Administration, Staff, and Alumni. The Committee is tasked to assist with the review of student application materials, conduct mock interviews, provide application feedback and draft a comprehensive endorsement letter for eligible SHU students and alumni who aspire to attend health professional/graduate schools.

If you would like to stay connected with the PPAC please visit our webpage where you can join our email listserv, learn about our upcoming events, drop-in hours and much more at shu.edu/pre-professional-advising/

Ruth Sharkey Academic Resource Center

Nicole Paternoster, Ed.D., Director

The Ruth Sharkey Academic Resource Center (ARC) is located on the 2nd floor of Arts and Sciences Hall. The ARC is a resource for all Seton Hall students who wish to maximize their academic potential by engaging with a learning community of peers, faculty, and administrators.

All students are encouraged to take advantage of the ARC’s free tutorial services, which are designated to supplement classroom instruction and improve academic achievement and performance. ARC peer tutoring and academic coaching allow students to schedule appointments in advance on Compass, drop in for assistance, or attend group review sessions. 

Tutoring is available in disciplines such as business, education, humanities, nursing, and science. The ARC also provides Tutors in Residence in Boland and Aquinas Halls where all students can attend drop-in sessions from 5 pm-12 am Sunday-Thursday evenings. The Peer Academic Coaching Program at the ARC provides students with 1:1 meetings with current SHU students who are sophomores, juniors, or seniors trained to help their peers develop customized academic success plans. Supplemental Instructors support students in historically challenging courses through peer-led study groups. SI sessions are informal seminars outside class and are regularly scheduled for all students enrolled in targeted courses. In addition, the ARC offers skill-building workshops, online resources, and tutoring events to support student success further. 

For more information, please call (973) 761-9108, send an email to arc@shu.edu, or visit the ARC’s website

Seton Center for Community and Population Health

Nalin Johri, Ph.D., M.A., Director
The Seton Center for Community and Population Health (SCCPH) was established in 2004 as an academic resource for collaboration, learning and research to enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities in need. The Center is in the Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences and Health Administration, in the School of Health and Medical Sciences and provides technical assistance to organizations and community health agencies focused on improving the health status of New Jersey residents. The center follows a partnership approach that facilitates linkages with key stakeholders, healthcare providers and graduate students. Since its inception, the center has collaborated through grants with multiple community agencies and involved graduate students from the Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.), the Bachelor of Sciences in Interprofessional Health Sciences, and other health-related SHU graduate programs. The SCCPH serves as an academic link and resource to local and regional nonprofit, health service agencies.

Seton Hall Sports Poll Conducted by the Sharkey Institute

Dr. Daniel Ladik, Director

The Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted by the Sharkey Institute, an initiative of the Center for Sport Management within the Stillman School of Business, officially launched in the Fall 2006 semester. The institute serves as a source of polling services and survey research dedicated to sport, placing the University in a domain unoccupied by any other university in America.

Founded with a generous donation from Thomas J. Sharkey and his wife Ruth, the Seton Hall Sports Poll serves as a barometer of public opinion on the important issues confronting sports today. The distinction of the Seton Hall Sports Poll is that it is strictly focused on current sport issues. The dynamics of the sport industry provide an ideal opportunity for the institute to present newsworthy findings on a regular basis, on topics such as the NCAA final four, commercialization of the Olympics, the steroid issue in Major League Baseball and sports gambling.

The Sharkey Institute also impacts the broader curriculum within the Stillman School of Business and throughout the University. Among the numerous educational opportunities, marketing courses have the benefit of a live market research center, and students in their core statistics classes analyze real- time data. Management students develop planning and organizing competencies required to run a polling center, and students in communication have the opportunity to craft news  releases.

Sister Rose Thering Fund for Jewish-Christian Studies

Anthony Sciglitano, Executive Director
Program Director, Mary Mountcastle

The Sister Rose Thering Fund for Education in Jewish-Christian Studies, established in 1993 in honor of Sister Rose’s work as an educator and advocate for improving relations between Christians and Jews, is part of the Department of Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The fund advances the legacy of Sister Rose by fostering understanding and cooperation among Jews, Christians and people of other religious traditions through advocacy and education; provides tuition assistance for teachers in public, private and parochial schools for graduate courses in Jewish- Christian and Holocaust Studies at Seton Hall University; and allows teachers to enroll as students for up to 12 credits and receive a certificate of completion. Teachers may also enroll in the Master of Arts in Jewish-Christian Studies degree program with financial assistance from the Institute for Judaeo-Christian Studies.

The Sister Rose Thering fund allows both educators and members of the community to explore lessons of lasting social significance, countering the destructive power of prejudice, antisemitism, ethnocentrism and bigotry born of ignorance, through workshops, lectures and travel programs. More than 400 teachers, K-12 have received Sister Rose Thering Fund scholarships since its inception and have reached over 160,000 students in their classrooms. This program supports teacher education to implement the Mandate of the State of New Jersey to teach about Genocides and the Holocaust in all schools, grades K-12.

Sister Rose’s Passion, a film about the life and work of Sister Rose Thering, won the award for the short documentary film category at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2004 and was nominated for an Academy Award® in 2005.

Sister Rose passed away on May 6, 2006 at her beloved Siena Center of the Dominican Sisters in Racine, Wisconsin. Her lifetime achievements are being memorialized by continuing her work toward improved dialogue between Christians and Jews. In 2008 a mission to Israel included a street being named in her memory in Jerusalem.

Scholarship applications are available by contacting the fund office at, (973) 761-9006, sending an email to srtf@shu.edu, or visiting shu.edu/sister-rose/

Transfer Student Center

Chris Driscoll, Director
Mooney Hall, Room 15

Providing individual consultations, workshops and academic coaching, the Transfer Student Center serves as an important resource for undergraduate transfer students.

The Transfer Student Center provides:

  • Academic advising for transfer students
  • Assistance to transfer students with their degree audits, credits evaluations, course substitutions, etc.
  • Assistance to students transitioning from one major to another
  • Referrals to academic departments and campus resources

Writing Center

Arundhati Sanyal, Ph.D., Director

The Writing Center is available to all students through the Department of English. It provides a range of services, including free consultations and tutorials, to both undergraduate and graduate students. Tutors (both peer, graduate students, and faculty) are available to provide advice, feedback and suggestions on how student writers might improve their writing, focusing especially on content, organization, structure, and flow, as well as grammar.

Located in Walsh Library, Room 316 and the adjoining space, the center is open during the academic year Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Grammar tutoring for L2 students is offered by Prof. Gail Vignola and Prof. Arundhati Sanyal. The center offers in-person and online tutoring via Teams.

To make appointments, students should log on to Piratenet and choose COMPASS.  From here they should go to the tab “Make an Appointment”; choose “tutoring”; then “writing tutoring”; then the Care Center tab where they can find “Writing Center”. All tutors will have their availability posted here. Students choose the time and the tutor to match their preferred time and follow instructions to make an appointment.  There will be email notification confirming the appointment.

The Writing Center is accessible via elevators.

For any queries regarding finals week and Summer Session hours, please email arundhati.sanyal@shu.edu

Seton Hall’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) is also available. This service is a web-based, virtual tutoring program, designed primarily for upperclassmen and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff, through which individuals can get feedback on their writing from Writing Center tutors via e- mail. The web address for the OWL is shu.edu/writing-center/

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