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Theresa Monaco named new Interfaith Coordinator
Amy Fusco
Issue date: 3/16/08 Section: News
Wilkes University's Student Development Office has announced that Theresa Monaco, former religion teacher in New York, has been hired as the new Interfaith Coordinator for campus.
After a lengthy selection process, the Diocese of Scranton made the offer to Monaco. Though Wilkes is an independent institution, The Scranton Diocese funds the Interfaith Coordinator position and therefore runs the search. According to Philip Ruthkosky, the Associate Dean of Student Development, Wilkes will provide Monaco with an office and living accommodations.
According to Monaco, after spending eight years at the high school level first working in the library and then as a teacher, she decided that she wanted to interact with a more mature group. She also wanted to become more involved exploring multiple faiths, rather than only the Catholic religion. She checked out the Wilkes website several times and chose to apply for the position.
"She's going to offer an office that is very conducive to students feeling free to just wander in and have candid conversations about faith, values, morals, whatever is on their mind," stated Ruthkosky, after meeting with Monaco. "She will be another trustworthy mentor where students can go in and really have these open conversations," he added.
"[Monaco] has a really diverse background in various different fields where she's done this kind of thing before and I think that will be a real benefit coming to the college," said Gabrielle Lamb, the Student Development Coordinator. "I expect that she'll put together a nice offering of programs to support the interfaith initiative on campus," she added.
"I feel that God is already working in the lives of the students and I want to encourage that development," stated Monaco.
She explained that in its mission statement Wilkes highlights the "constantly changing world" that we live in and the need for continuing learning so the students can survive in it.
After a lengthy selection process, the Diocese of Scranton made the offer to Monaco. Though Wilkes is an independent institution, The Scranton Diocese funds the Interfaith Coordinator position and therefore runs the search. According to Philip Ruthkosky, the Associate Dean of Student Development, Wilkes will provide Monaco with an office and living accommodations.
According to Monaco, after spending eight years at the high school level first working in the library and then as a teacher, she decided that she wanted to interact with a more mature group. She also wanted to become more involved exploring multiple faiths, rather than only the Catholic religion. She checked out the Wilkes website several times and chose to apply for the position.
"She's going to offer an office that is very conducive to students feeling free to just wander in and have candid conversations about faith, values, morals, whatever is on their mind," stated Ruthkosky, after meeting with Monaco. "She will be another trustworthy mentor where students can go in and really have these open conversations," he added.
"[Monaco] has a really diverse background in various different fields where she's done this kind of thing before and I think that will be a real benefit coming to the college," said Gabrielle Lamb, the Student Development Coordinator. "I expect that she'll put together a nice offering of programs to support the interfaith initiative on campus," she added.
"I feel that God is already working in the lives of the students and I want to encourage that development," stated Monaco.
She explained that in its mission statement Wilkes highlights the "constantly changing world" that we live in and the need for continuing learning so the students can survive in it.
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