Two Saint Joseph’s University students are now representing their respective dioceses, sharing insights with young adults from across the nation from Catholic and Jewish religious traditions. Matthew Dunne, BS ’25, a senior international business and business intelligence and analytics double major with a theology minor, and Joe Pro, BS ’25, a senior accounting and business intelligence and analytics double major, were appointed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs as part of the inaugural interfaith dialogue between Jewish and Catholic young adults.

In spring 2024, USCCB and the American Jewish Community (AJC) hosted three such interfaith dialogues with Saint Joseph’s University. Attendees, including Dunne and Pro, had the opportunity to break into small groups and provide their thoughts and personal experiences on discussion topics such as, “How do you view the common good?,” “What steps can we take to continue to foster positive relations between our communities?” and “How can we take these discussions and move them into practice?” 

“I will always be thankful to St. Joe's because I never would have had an opportunity to do something so different and something that's been really rewarding,” says Dunne, a member of St. Eleanor Catholic Church in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

Dunne has studied the history of Jewish and Christian relations and taken an advanced course in understanding the differences between Jewish and Christian interpretations of scripture with Professors Adam Gregerman, PhD, and Philip Cunningham, PhD. His personal experience with interfaith conversations encouraged him to study and participate in the formal dialogues between members of the Jewish and Catholic religious traditions. 

“I have become passionate about learning about the different dialogues between the two faiths,” says Dunne. “I think this generation is going to determine how the next few generations are going to play out with how we treat each other.”

Pro is a member of St. Thomas More Parish representing the Catholic Diocese of Camden, a recipient of the Joseph M. Ragan ’69 scholarship in accounting and active in several student organizations at Saint Joseph’s. 

He has been involved in organizing faith reflection opportunities for his peers on Hawk Hill and has also studied the history of the Jewish and Catholic religious traditions. A participant in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, Pro is committed to faith discernment and dialogue as part of his college experience. 

“Saint Joseph's blew away all my expectations by just allowing me all these different avenues and opportunities to grow my faith,” says Pro. 

As they both look to enter the workplace in the spring, they hope to continue having these important interfaith dialogues. 

“When you look at the world of business, you have to learn how to be among other people, communicate with them and form relationships. And I think that’s what these interfaith dialogue opportunities allowed me to do,” says Pro.

Since its inception in 2014, Saint Joseph’s Office of Veterans Services has been dedicated to supporting veterans as they transition from military service to civilian life. In its 10 years, the office has also empowered more than 240 veterans through its signature program, the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV). 

The EBV is a rigorous, multi-phase program that provides the necessary tools and education for veterans who want to start or grow their businesses. Each spring, participants immerse themselves in the entrepreneurial process, gaining valuable insights from seasoned veteran entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated the business world. The program is free for veterans — thanks to partial funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with grants from corporations such as the Wells Fargo Foundation — with Saint Joseph’s covering transportation and lodging costs. 

“Our goal is to provide them with the skills and awareness of the entrepreneurship journey, ensuring they have a reasonable opportunity for success from the outset,” says Hank Gillen, U.S. Army veteran and director of the Office of Veterans Services (OVS). “These veterans have served our country and we are here to help them in their next phase of life, serving their communities.” 

A cornerstone of the program’s success is the ongoing mentorship and support network, often facilitated by Saint Joseph’s alumni like Francis “Frank” Trainer, BS ’68, H ’19, who was instrumental in establishing the OVS. In March 2024, five program graduates returned to share their expertise and advice with the newest cohort. 

“I have never had formal business training, but after going through the EBV, it helped me believe that I can do this and succeed,” says Sharon Martin, U.S. Army veteran and owner of Managed Nerds, a cybersecurity company helping small businesses. “If I had to say one thing I came out with from the program, it is confidence.” 

According to Gillen, 33% of veterans who are not in business when they attend the bootcamp begin their entrepreneurial journey within 12 months. Saint Joseph’s dedication to supporting veterans is further underscored by its ranking as the second-best regional university for veterans in the North, according to U.S. News & World Report. 

“As a Jesuit institution, having an office dedicated to supporting our veterans is not just appropriate, it’s essential,” says Gillen. “Looking ahead, I’m excited to enhance our impact on the program’s alumni by creating opportunities for them to give back, connect with future cohorts and continue their own journeys. Whether launching a business or advancing in their current endeavors, our goal is to be a lasting resource at every stage of their careers.” 

At the heart of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that call on all countries to take action toward peace and prosperity. The SDGs range from creating equitable access to quality education to ensuring clean water and sanitation for all. ChatSDG is a tool for universities and academics to measure their research impact on these critical goals. 

The generative AI model is a collaboration between the SDG Dashboard team within Saint Joseph’s University’s Haub School of Business and Cabells Scholarly Analytics. David S. Steingard, PhD, associate professor of management, who leads up the SDG Dashboard team, stresses the importance of “research with impact.” 

“[ChatSDG] is a breakthrough application,” Steingard says. “The large language model can analyze research being done and tell those involved how that research does, or does not, make an impact on the accomplishment of the SDGs.”

Not only is the application itself a milestone in the quest for finding socially responsible and beneficial ways to use artificial intelligence, but the undertaking has accelerated a paradigm shift in the way academic research is perceived and judged. This is a much needed revelation if universities are to play a significant role in the progress made toward the SDGs.

“Right now,” Steingard explains, “research is measured on more of a scholar-to-scholar basis. Was the research published in a reputable journal? Was it peer reviewed? It’s all part of this ‘publish or perish’ mentality.”

In a paper under review for publication, Steingard and co-authors David J. Reibstein, PhD, of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and Mark Normandin, MS ’26, graduate student in the MSBIA program, have dubbed this dynamic the “citation counting dysfunction” — the main aim of which is to increase citations, often at the expense of broader, interdisciplinary or socially relevant research.

To demonstrate ChatSDG’s ability to counteract this phenomenon, Steingard pulls up the application and feeds one of his papers on SDGs into the platform. In seconds, ChatSDG delivers a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the paper complete with an explanation of which SDGs the research supports and a score of real-world relevance. Steingard’s paper, not surprisingly, receives a score of 4.7 out of a possible 5 points.

ChatSDG’s usefulness is driven home when a second paper, chosen at random from an online repository, receives a score of 2.4.

Steingard recalls performing a similar demo at a recent conference. Academics were able to feed their own research into ChatSDG to see for themselves what the impact of their research was. Steingard politely describes the experience for many of these individuals as “eye-opening.”

“It's a collaboration between humans and AI,” Steingard clarifies. “[ChatSDG] can make humans better and more consistent. It's an accelerator.”

Steingard, no stranger to responsible research and ethics, will be the first to offer the caveat that any AI is only as ethical, responsible and accurate as those who build and maintain it. That, he offers, is what makes SJU the perfect home for ChatSDG.

“The Jesuit values at SJU are built on thinking critically, making ethical decisions, and pursuing social justice and environmental sustainability,” Steingard concludes. “We’re not alone on this, we’re part of something bigger. But SJU is making a really important contribution to this effort for a sustainable future.”

This year, Saint Joseph’s community garden donated more than 500 pounds of home-grown produce to local food banks, including the Narberth Community Food Bank, the Media Food Bank and the Upper Darby Food Cupboard. Fresh foods were also sent to HawkHub, a food pantry and on-campus resource that works to support the basic needs of the University community.

“The community garden is a space for all people to enjoy, and we address topics such as food insecurity as well as sustainability and social justice,” says Olivia Wegener, BS ’25, psychology major and co-president of the garden. 

Members of the community garden also host events in collaboration with campus organizations for those interested in gardening or want to learn more about different plants and how to help the ecosystem. Other previous events include bouquet making, how to build a zen garden with the Asian Student Organization and pottery night with the Art Club.

“We see this as a vital part of the campus,” says Bill Wolff, PhD, associate professor of communication and media studies, and director of the SJU community garden. “It is a positive, mindful space where students can come and get away from stress. And we want it to be a space where everyone knows that they're welcome and they can contribute something that not only gives back to the campus, but also beautifies the campus.”