READING, Pa. -- Dr. Kevin Godfrey, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and theology professor at Alvernia University, has been named executive director of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities (AFCU), effective July 1. The AFCU is the national organization for Franciscan higher education with 22 member institutions, including Western New York’s Hilbert College, St. Bonaventure University and Villa Maria College.
Godfrey succeeds Sister Gabrielle Kowalski, Ph.D., AFCU’s first director. With Godfrey’s appointment, the national office of the AFCU will move from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee to Alvernia University in Reading, Pa.
“I am truly excited about the opportunity to help chart a course for the future of the AFCU and honored that they have selected me for this role,” said Godfrey. “I look forward to using my personal and professional experiences to further Franciscan higher education on behalf of AFCU’s member schools, which is something my time at Alvernia has well prepared me for.”
Godfrey brings deep academic and administrative credentials with him to the role as well as his expertise in Franciscan studies. He joined Alvernia’s faculty as an associate professor in theology in 1996 to teach Franciscan and Roman Catholic studies and was appointed to the role of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2007.
He is a prolific author and has published numerous articles and papers on theology and Catholic and Franciscan doctrine. He is also an advisory board member and regular contributor for the AFCU journal, A Franciscan Perspective in Higher Education. He holds a doctorate in historical theology from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Mo., a master’s degree in theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and French studies from the University of Minnesota.
"We are so very fortunate to have found someone like Kevin who possesses a depth of scholarly expertise in Catholic theology as well as significant personal and professional experiences in Franciscan studies," said Sister Elise Kriss, chair of the AFCU Board of Directors and president of the University of Saint Francis. "His academic background, administrative talents and leadership experience will be great assets in moving our organization forward."
Godfrey will complete his term as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Alvernia in June and will then return to the full-time faculty as teacher-scholar in theology, using released time to perform his AFCU responsibilities.
The Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities promotes Franciscan ideals and the mission of Catholic higher education through support of its 22 member institutions, providing a forum to foster collaboration among member schools.