Bethlehem University hosted the meeting of the Executive Board of the International Association of La Salle Universities (IALU) on 24 and 25 October 2019.
Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University Brother Peter Bray welcomed the Board on campus and told them that their presence here gives hope to students that they are not forgotten by the international community.
The Board members enjoyed lunch at the Institute of Hotel Management training restaurant where food was cooked and served by students. Student ambassadors and members of the Executive Council joined them and they were able to share some of their experiences with their guests during lunch.
The IALU is composed of more than 60 Higher Education Institutions of the Lasallian network spread all over the world. The Executive Board is responsible for coordinating the opportunities for Lasallian Universities to support one another and enrich the lives of the students to attend these institutions. There are regular international opportunities for faculty, staff and students from the Lasallian Universities to come together to explore what it means to be Lasallian and to enrich the lives of each other.
The visitors were deeply impressed with their welcome at Bethlehem University and had the chance to gain a real insight into the life of students at the university and the opportunities that are available to them. There was a general sense of solidarity among the visitors with Bethlehem University, a desire to find ways to collaborate in order to benefit from their engagement with Bethlehem University and to provide opportunities for faculty, staff, and students of Bethlehem University to benefit from spending time in these other Lasallian universities. Exploration of these possibilities was strongly encouraged by the visitors.
The IALU Board members who attended the two days meetings were:
Dr. David Livingston, President of Lewis University, Chicago, USA
Dr. Colleen Hanycz, President of La Salle University, Philadelphia, USA
Brother Andrés Govela, FSC President of the International Association of La Salle Universities (IALU), Mexico
Mr. Josep Santos, General Director of La Salle URL, Spain
Dr. Joan Landeros, Chair of Internationalization Committee, Mexico
Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, AFSC, Chancellor Emeritus of De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines
Br. Gustavo Ramirez, FSC, EdD, Councilor for Higher Education in the Institute, Rome
Br. Augustine Boquer, FSC, EdD, President and Chancellor of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas and De La Salle-Health and Sciences Institute, Philippines
Dr. Carlos Coelho, IALU Executive Director UNILASALLE, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dr. Diana Loera, Associate Director, Mexico
Br. Jack Curran, FSC, Ph.D., Vice President for Mission at Manhattan College, New York, USA
Mr. Peter Stemp, Associate Director of Solidarity, Rome, Italy
Rev. James Burns, IVD, Ph.D., President of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, USA
Brother Augustine Nicoletti, FSC, President of the Ethiopian Catholic University in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dr. Brennan O’Donnell, President of Manhattan College, New York, USA