Dear Students, Alumni and Friends of the University of Dallas Neuhoff School of Ministry,

The University of Dallas has recently reorganized several areas, and has done so in a manner that seeks to enhance and enrich educational offerings that are essential to our mission. Both the degree programs as well as the continuing education programs in ministry are certainly essential to our mission. In addition to a reorganization of current programs, the university’s new strategic plan calls for an expansion of the ways in which we provide formation for ministry. There are three main elements to this new approach to providing excellent ministerial and theological formation. 

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First, the Ann and Joe O. Neuhoff School of Ministry will, as of June 1, 2021, be transformed into the Ann and Joe O. Neuhoff Institute for Ministry and Evangelization. The Neuhoff Institute will preserve and expand the School of Ministry’s English and Spanish non-degree certificate offerings (e.g. Catholic Biblical School, Certificate in Pastoral Ministry), including diaconate formation to better serve local dioceses and other diocesan partners throughout the U.S. Students currently enrolled in all of the Neuhoff School's Continuing Education programs will be able to complete their programs within the new Institute, and those who have received certificates continue to be a valued part of the university and its mission to serve the Church. The university is currently in dialogue with the Diocese of Dallas and its partners to find new ways to serve in Bishop Burns’ efforts to revitalize the faith of lay Catholics in the diocese and beyond. A search for a new director of the Neuhoff Institute will commence later this year. Please direct any inquiries about these to Michele Meny (mmeny1@udallas.edu).

Second, as of June 1, 2021, undergraduate and graduate ministry degree programs will move into the Constantin College of Liberal Arts and the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts, respectively. The move of graduate programs into the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts returns them to where many of them were originally housed for 20 years. 

The pastoral ministry major and most graduate programs will be housed in the Theology Department, which is committed to continuing to provide a quality ministerial education grounded in theological study. The department’s current faculty welcomes this new and exciting opportunity to collaborate with the ministry faculty and students in seeking to know, love and serve God and the Church. Please direct any inquiries about ministry programs to the chair of the Theology Department, Dr. Christopher Malloy (cmalloy@udallas.edu). 

The Education Department will house the Master of Catholic School Leadership and is committed to providing an excellent formation to current and future students in this program. Please direct any inquiries about this program to its director, Dr. Janette Boazman (jboazman@udallas.edu). 

Third, a new Homiletics Institute, funded by the Catholic Foundation and housed at the University of Dallas, will be founded to serve parish priests and deacons in their preaching ministry. The Homiletics Institute, in addition to providing priests and deacons with essential tools to improve their preaching, also seeks to become a means by which priests and deacons build richer fellowship with each other and inspire each other in their common ministry.

I invite you to be part of these new initiatives, and ask for your prayers that they might help engender a new springtime of faith in our diocese and across our nation.

Jonathan J. Sanford, Ph.D.

President, University of Dallas