Structure and Staffing
The Jesuit Social Research Institute operates as a constitutive body within Loyola University New Orleans, but with a distinct staff, budget, and governing structure. At the same time, the institute is an apostolic ministry of the Jesuits of the New Orleans Province. The Jesuit Social Research Institute’s governance structure includes an active advisory board—half of its members appointed by the Jesuit provincial of the New Orleans Province and half appointed by the president of Loyola University. In addition to members from both the New Orleans Province and Loyola University, this board is comprised of respected academics from other universities, non-academic experts, members of grassroots organizations, and foundation representatives. The board oversees, advises, and appraises institute work; assists in fund development for the institute; and participates in the annual evaluation of the institutes operation.
Current JSRI staff includes:
- An executive director/senior fellow with responsibilities for vision setting, administration, staffing, development, promotion, coordination, as well as ongoing involvement in JSRI’s primary activities.
- Two additional research fellows work in the focus issues and activities of the institute.
- The Jesuit province’s assistant for social ministries works quarter time on the JSRI staff, developing outreach and training programs, and offering liaison with other Jesuit works.
- An administrative assistant facilitates the institute’s operation within the policies and practices of Loyola University.
- Loyola work-study student interns also collaborate with the institute.
- JSRI also welcomes graduate research interns, for example, from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, as well as other visiting scholars.
All professional staff share a strong balance between academic skills and praxis, including foundational knowledge of Catholic social thought. In addition to this staff, JSRI welcomes other scholars, from Loyola as well as from other universities, as visiting or associate research fellows.
