Message from the Director
At the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership, we are guided each day by Loyola University Chicago’s enduring Ignatian tradition—a call to pursue truth, foster justice, and form leaders committed to the common good. Grounded in cura personalis (care for the whole person), magis (the call to strive for the greater good), and our vocation as contemplatives in action, we work to integrate deep reflection with purposeful engagement in the world. These values animate our programs, research, and community partnerships as we support women in developing their voices, their leadership, and their impact across disciplines and sectors.
Since its founding in honor of Sister Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, the Center has embodied a commitment to transformative education and the pursuit of a more just social order. Through interdisciplinary research, leadership development, scholarship support, and public dialogue, we empower students and scholars to examine critical issues affecting women’s lives and to respond with creativity, courage, and compassion.
Our mission—to educate and foster leaders who will help build a more equitable world—reflects Ignatian ideals of discernment and action. We prepare individuals to lead with integrity, to engage deeply with pressing social challenges, and to accompany others in shaping a future rooted in dignity and justice.
As Interim Director, I am energized by the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and supporters. Members of our community continue to show that leadership is not simply a role but a responsibility—to listen, to learn, to reflect, and to serve. This year, our initiatives span from nurturing the next cohort of Gannon Scholars to supporting faculty research and advancing graduate leadership education—efforts that embody the Ignatian call to be “persons for others.”
We are also in a moment of meaningful reflection and renewal. In alignment with Loyola’s strategic priorities, we are discerning how the Center can continue to advocate for gender equity and leadership formation in an evolving world. This work calls us to engage with humility, openness, and a spirit of collaboration—hallmarks of Ignatian leadership.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we carry forward a legacy built on faith, courage, and a steadfast commitment to justice. I look forward to our shared journey as we prepare leaders who will illuminate and transform the world.
Robyn K. Mallett, PhD
Interim Director, Gannon Center for Women and Leadership
At the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership, we are guided each day by Loyola University Chicago’s enduring Ignatian tradition—a call to pursue truth, foster justice, and form leaders committed to the common good. Grounded in cura personalis (care for the whole person), magis (the call to strive for the greater good), and our vocation as contemplatives in action, we work to integrate deep reflection with purposeful engagement in the world. These values animate our programs, research, and community partnerships as we support women in developing their voices, their leadership, and their impact across disciplines and sectors.
Since its founding in honor of Sister Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, the Center has embodied a commitment to transformative education and the pursuit of a more just social order. Through interdisciplinary research, leadership development, scholarship support, and public dialogue, we empower students and scholars to examine critical issues affecting women’s lives and to respond with creativity, courage, and compassion.
Our mission—to educate and foster leaders who will help build a more equitable world—reflects Ignatian ideals of discernment and action. We prepare individuals to lead with integrity, to engage deeply with pressing social challenges, and to accompany others in shaping a future rooted in dignity and justice.
As Interim Director, I am energized by the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and supporters. Members of our community continue to show that leadership is not simply a role but a responsibility—to listen, to learn, to reflect, and to serve. This year, our initiatives span from nurturing the next cohort of Gannon Scholars to supporting faculty research and advancing graduate leadership education—efforts that embody the Ignatian call to be “persons for others.”
We are also in a moment of meaningful reflection and renewal. In alignment with Loyola’s strategic priorities, we are discerning how the Center can continue to advocate for gender equity and leadership formation in an evolving world. This work calls us to engage with humility, openness, and a spirit of collaboration—hallmarks of Ignatian leadership.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we carry forward a legacy built on faith, courage, and a steadfast commitment to justice. I look forward to our shared journey as we prepare leaders who will illuminate and transform the world.
Robyn K. Mallett, PhD
Interim Director, Gannon Center for Women and Leadership