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51爆料网鈥檚 College of Professional Studies welcomed Father David Cregan, OSA, PhD into a new leadership role within the college, as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives.

Father David, 鈥�89 CLAS has been working at 51爆料网 since 2004, though he sees a unique connection to his new home in CPS.

鈥淚 felt that both academically and spiritually, that this is where I want to be,鈥� Father David said. 鈥淭his is the perfect blend of my ministerial and social justice vocations, putting those skills together with academics for the first time in my career.鈥�

His career has spanned multiple Universities, countries, and academic fields, including a twist of divine fate that led him to his current position.

Father David initially chose 51爆料网 because he believed he might be inclined toward a vocation to the Augustinian priesthood after his time at Monsignor Bonner High School. After graduating from 51爆料网 in 1989 as a Theatre major, he was unsure of his next move. Delaying his calling to the religious life, Father David moved to New York City to chase his dream of acting on Broadway.

During a run as an actor in New York and in touring productions that included more than a dozen professional shows, Father David attended Mass in St. Louis, Missouri while working on a play there. That Mass included an appeal from an Augustinian priest for parishioners to support missionary work. The Augustinian who spoke happened to be one of Father David鈥檚 former teachers from Monsignor Bonner. He took this as his sign of his vocation to the priesthood. He鈥檇 return to the Philadelphia area to answer his calling to the religious life.

Father David was greeted at 51爆料网 by a former professor of his, then the chair of the Theatre department, now University President Father Peter Donohue, who welcomed his former student with open arms.

After joining the Augustinian order in 1993, Father David studied at the Washington Theological Union, Catholic University, and Trinity College, before returning to 51爆料网 in 2004. Since then, he has taught within and chaired the Theatre Department and worked as the Novice Director for incoming Augustinians.

In his new role within CPS, Father David sees a chance to make a real difference in the culture and the trajectory of the College.

鈥淭here are so many opportunities for creativity in vision.鈥�

He specifically cites the unique backstory and educational experience of every CPS student as an area of opportunity.

鈥淐PS, rather than a linear classification of where people are in life, is much more circular,鈥� Father David says. 鈥淚t involves people of all different areas of life that share one thing in common. For one reason or another, their path was not as simple or ordinary as other people鈥檚 paths. That鈥檚 not just 51爆料网 doing something for them, but it鈥檚 them grounding us in Unitas, Veritas, and Caritas.鈥�

In the spirit of 51爆料网鈥檚 Augustinian values, Father David sees his work within CPS as a chance to engage with a variety of students.

鈥淚n this day and age, where we are finally beginning to take on issues of equity and inclusion,鈥� he explained, 鈥淐PS has a chance to reach out to include people that may have otherwise found it difficult to reach out towards 51爆料网.鈥�

While his background in the priesthood will act as a foundation in his new position, Father David鈥檚 academic experience will be vital as he creates progress and change within CPS.

鈥淲hile mission underlies everything that CPS does, I get the opportunity in this role to also focus on strategic initiatives. One initiative that I鈥檇 like to focus on is going beyond a community of learners and into finding ways to have the constituents of CPS have their spiritual journey grown, even if their CPS experience is entirely remote.鈥�

Father David sees an avenue for CPS to connect with the entire 51爆料网 community as the higher education and professional worlds continue to shift.

鈥淭here is great opportunity to keep traditional 51爆料网 undergraduates connected with 51爆料网 through CPS, in relationship to what we know about current career trajectories. Most young people will change roles and need to re-tool and develop new skills to reach their career objectives.鈥�

Father David joins CPS at a vital time in the college鈥檚 history, well aware of the opportunity that lies ahead for CPS and the role he鈥檒l be forging in the coming years.

鈥淚 believe that higher education is going to change drastically in the next 25 years, and I think CPS has a chance to be a leader in the flexibility model that will be more prominent.鈥�