Know More About HECoS

Who we are, what we do, and how you can participate

The Coalition

HECoS has no office, no staff, and no budget. We are a group of volunteers who work in higher education as faculty, staff, and campus ministers. We serve on Catholic and secular campuses, in diocesan or national offices. We have experienced the vibrancy of faith present in our colleges and universities, and we believe that our students, faculty, staff and alumni have much to contribute to the life of the Church, both now and in the future.

Our group was formed in 2023 as part of the consultative process for the Church’s Synod on Synodality. We have (as of mid-2024) hosted two national on-line events, and several regional and local events.

… the Holy Spirit always surprises us, to
suggest fresh paths and new ways of speaking. It is a slow and perhaps tiring exercise, this learning to listen to one another – bishops, priests, religious and laity, all the baptised – and to avoid artificial and shallow and pre-
packaged responses .. Let us not soundproof our hearts; let us not
remain barricaded in our certainties”

From the Homily of
Pope Francis
Opening of Synodal Path

Who We Are

The members of our coalition include:

  • Ms. Kelly Adamson – Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Accompaniment, University of Dayton
  • Mr. Edgar Guzmán – St. Paul Catholic Newman Center, Fresno CA
  • Ms. Barbara McCrabb – Secretariat for Catholic Education, USCCB
  • Dr. Beth Ford McNamee – St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia PA
  • Dr. Maureen O’Connell – LeSalle University, Philadelphia PA
  • Ms. Carolina Perez – DePaul University, Chicago IL
  • Fr. Larry Rice, CSP – St. John XXIII University Parish, Knoxville TN
  • Ms. Rosie Chinea Shawver – Catholic Campus Ministry Association
  • Ms. Rebecca Villareal – Campus Ministry, Archdiocese of San Antonio TX
  • Ms. Jessica Wallace – Campus Ministry, University of Dayton
  • Mr. Jacob Williamson – Youth and Young Adult Engagement, Diocese of Pittsburgh
  • Mr. Troy Woytek – The Catholic Student Center at Washington University, St. Louis MO