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Pastoral and Theological Faculty
Leonard J. DiPaul
Executive Director
B.A., St. Charles Seminary
M.A., St. Charles Seminary
Ed.D., Immaculata University
(610)-361-5225
DIPAULL@neumann.edu
Dr. Len DiPaul currently serves as the executive director
of the Department of Pastoral and Theological Studies
at Neumann University. As the executive director, he oversees
the areas of theology, pastoral care and counseling and
the religious education institute. He also teaches in
the graduate program for education and is a member of
the faculty associated with the Calling Forth Leaders
Program, designed in conjunction with the diocese of Wilmington
to assist in the development of leaders in Catholic schools.
He received his doctorate in education from Immaculata
University. Len is also one of the founders of Neumann
University's Center for Sport Spirituality and Character
Development. He and his wife Ellen have three children,
Joe, Alison and Kristen. Alison and Kristen are Neumann
University graduates.
Joann Wolski Conn
Professor Emerita, Pastoral Studies
B.A., Marygrove College
M.A., Marquette University
Ph.D., Columbia University/
Union Theological Seminary
(610)-558-5609
jconn@neumann.edu
All of my professional life has been focused on spiritual formation, theology, spiritual direction, and making Christian spiritual classics "usable" for contemporary spirituality. My formal theological education has included a master's degree in Catholic theology from Marquette, Ph.D. in World Religion (majoring in Christianity) from Columbia University/Union Theological Seminary (New York City), post-doctoral studies in Christian Spirituality-Spiritual Direction at the Graduate Theological Union (Berkeley, CA) and Jewish Studies at Jewish Theological Seminary (New York City).
I began as a spiritual director in 1975 while I was on the faculty of the major seminary for the Archdiocese of San Francisco (St. Patrick's Seminary) and part of the spiritual direction staff of the Institute for Spirituality and Worship of the Jesuit School of Theology (Berkeley, CA). I have taught at Neumann University for more than 25 years and during this time also was adjunct faculty at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC and at St. John's Graduate School of Theology in Collegeville, MN. I am also an Associate of the Monroe, Michigan branch of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
I was part of the founding faculty of the Neumann University graduate program in pastoral counseling and spiritual direction. In 2005 I was president of the International Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality. My teaching has flowed into my writing, for example Spirituality and Personal Maturity (1989 and 1996), Women's Spirituality: Resources for Christian Development (1986 and 2nd ed. 1996).
Eileen Flanagan
Associate Professor, Pastoral Studies
B.A., Immaculata College
M.A., Villanova University
Ph.D., Temple University
(610)-558-5603
eflanaga@neumann.edu
I have been part of the Neumann Community since 1990 when I assisted in the creation and design of Neumann's spiritual direction program. As associate professor of spirituality and religious studies, I teach in the pastoral counseling and spiritual direction tracks. Courses I have taught are: Theory and Practice of Spiritual Direction I & II, Theological Foundations, Discernment and Developmental Models of Spiritual Growth. I also coordinate the spiritual direction practicum and oversee the student program for the certificate of advanced study in spiritual direction supervision.
My educational background includes a B.A. in theology from Immaculata College, an M.A. in religious studies from Villanova University, a diploma in theological studies from Regis College, the Jesuit dimension of the Toronto School of Theology, and a Ph. D. in religion from Temple University.
My current areas of scholarly interest are Spirituality of Clare
of Assisi, the establishment of the Poor Clares in America, and
the contemporary practice of spiritual direction.
Rev. Wallace Fletcher, Jr.
Adjunct Faculty, Pastoral Studies
B.A., Sterling College
M.A., Union Theological Seminary
M. Div., Princeton Theological Seminary
D. Min., Lutheran Theological Seminary
610-828-2270
dialoguecenter@comcast.net
Rev. Wally Fletcher, D.Min., is Executive Director of The Dialogue Center for Counseling and Consulting in Plymouth Meeting, PA. He has extensive training and experience as a therapist, consultant, educator and non-profit executive. He has taught Group Dynamics, Spirituality of Organization and other courses in Pastoral Counseling at Neumann University for ten years. He is an ordained Presbyterian clergyman and served as pastor of a small rural congregation before entering specialized ministry. He is a board certified psychoanalyst as well as a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. He is also a member of The International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organizations. He has published an article on "Group and Group Dynamics" for the second volume of The Encyclopedia of Christianity and is a regular contributor on pastoral themes for Lectionary Homiletics, a national journal for preachers.
James A. Houck
Assistant Professor, Pastoral Studies
B.A. Messiah College
M. Div., Asbury Theological Seminary
M.S., Loyola College, MD
Ph.D., Loyola College, MD
610-358-4227
HOUCKJ@neumann.edu
Jim Houck earned his Ph.D. in pastoral counseling from Loyola College in Maryland. He currently serves as an assistant professor of pastoral studies and clinical coordinator for the department. In addition to having provided pastoral leadership in various settings, Dr. Houck is also a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania, and holds professional memberships in the National Board for Certified Counselors, the American Counseling Association, and the International Association for Near Death Experiences. His research interests include grief and bereavement, trauma, spiritual and religious coping, after death communication and near death experiences.
"For me, the field of pastoral counseling is an on going
professional and personal integration of clinical psychology with
pastoral, theological and spiritual issues. Students come to understand
that it is within this integration that we are being transformed
by God's grace working in and through us as pastoral counselors."
John V. Kruse
Assistant Professor, Theological Studies
B.A., University of Dayton
M.A., University of Dayton
Ph.D., Saint Louis University
610-358-4226
KRUSEJ@neumann.edu
John V. Kruse, Ph.D. is a historical theologian with expertise in Franciscan spirituality and the office of the papacy. Dr. Kruse came to Neumann in 2006 and has taught the following courses: Introduction to Theology, Themes in Christian Scripture, Contemporary Catholicism, Sacramental Theology, Sexual and Medical Ethics, and Francis and the Environment. Dr. Kruse’s publications include Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Pope John Paul II, Lent and Easter Wisdom from Pope John Paul II, Advent and Christmas Wisdom from St. Francis of Assisi, Lent and Easter Wisdom from St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, and the article “The Changing Role of Hugolino dei Conti di Segni (Gregory IX): A Hermeneutical Tool for Understanding the Lives of Francis" published in the Italian Journal Miscellanea Francescana (2008). His current areas of scholarly interest include the relationship between St. Clare and the papacy, the modern papacy, and the role of service learning in furthering the mission of a Catholic, Franciscan university.
Sr. Lynn P. Lavin, OSF, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pastoral Counseling
B.A., Neumann University
M.A., Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
M.S., Loyola University, MD
Ph.D., Loyola University, MD
610-358-4298
Sister Lynn P. Lavin, A Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, graduated from Duquesne University in 1981 with a MA degree in Formative Spirituality. In 1995 she completed her MS in Pastoral Counseling at Loyola University, MD and in 2001 graduated with her PhD in Pastoral Counseling. She is presently a full time assistant professor at Neumann and is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Board of Certified Counselors.
Previously Sr. Lynn has served as the Director of St. Joseph Counseling Center in Spokane, WA where she provided counseling services for individuals, couples, families, as well as group therapy. She was Congregational Minister of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia from 2002 – 2008. Presently, Sr. Lynn also works as a pastoral counselor and spiritual director and does consultant work and facilitation for religious groups and other organizations throughout the United States.
Sr. Suzanne Mayer, I.H.M.
Associate Professor, Pastoral Studies
B.A., Immaculata College
M.S., Villanova University
M.S., Neumann College
Ph.D., Loyola College, MD
(610)-361-2292
mayers@neumann.edu
Sister Suzanne Mayer, a Sister of the Immaculate Heart, has a long-standing history with Neumann University. She graduated from the pastoral counseling program in 1990 and then went on for her doctorate in pastoral counseling from Loyola University in Maryland. Having taught eight years as an adjunct in the pastoral care and counseling program, she moved into position as a full-time professor eight years ago. Sister has also taught graduate and undergraduate courses at Immaculata University and St. Charles Borremeo Seminary. She works as a pastoral counselor, consultant, and lecturer and retreat director with groups of religious across the United States, particularly those in formative stages, including working as an instructor in the In-Search inter-novitiate program for the contiguous dioceses.
All this is the most recent in Sister's career in education, beginning as a lay teacher in the primary grades and moving up through elementary and secondary education. Currently, along with her teaching and advising, Sister has a small pastoral counseling practice. She also gives lectures, retreats and days of recollection and is published in areas such as development and growth, women's roles and issues, the integration of spirituality and psychology and formation for religious growth. She is also a published poet and has a special interest in writing about forgiveness and the areas of trauma and crisis.
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