Huether 2025

Friday, Nov. 21

Dr. Jaclyn Doherty
Research Associate, Springtide Research Institute

Jaclyn Doherty, Ph.D., serves as a research associate at Springtide Research Institute, where she leads client projects and collaborates to conduct Springtide studies. Analyzing data and communicating research findings enables her to do work that bridges generational gaps and encourages empathy with young people. Dr. Doherty earned her doctorate in social psychology with a concentration in quantitative methods at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center. Her academic research focused on religious identity in social spaces, including relationship maintenance between people who are religiously different, communication about religious and spiritual experiences, and how these processes affect personal and relational well-being. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Nabil Tueme
Senior Research Associate, Springtide Research Institute

Nabil Tueme, Ph.D., is a sociologist and senior research associate at Springtide Research Institute, a nonprofit organization that conducts social science research on the perspectives and experiences of new generations. Her research focuses on race, religion and social change. She has been featured in media outlets such as National Catholic Reporter and Religion News Service. Dr. Tueme’s work aims to deepen understanding of today’s young people by making rigorous research accessible to broad audiences. She is the principal investigator for Christian Brothers Conference’s language of vocation study.

Saturday, Nov. 22

Dr. Hosffman Ospino
Professor of Theology and Religious Education, Boston College

Hosffman Ospino, Ph.D., is professor of theology and religious education at Boston College, Clough School of Theology and Ministry, where he is also the chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry. He has conducted several national studies on Hispanic Catholicism. Presently, he serves as principal investigator for the national initiative “Nuevo Momento: Leadership and Capacity Building for Ministerial Organizations Serving Hispanic Catholics” (2024-2028) and a co-principal investigator for “Haciendo Caminos: Theological Education for New Generations of U.S. Latino/a Catholics” (2023-2027). Dr. Ospino is the author and editor of more than 20 books and about 250 articles, academic and general. He is past-president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States and is currently an officer of the Catholic Theological Society of America. He regularly provides consulting services to various ecclesial bodies on matters related to evangelization, faith formation and ministry with Hispanic Catholics. Dr. Ospino serves on the board of directors of several Catholic organizations and is actively involved in ministry with his family in the Archdiocese of Boston. 

Thursday, Nov. 20

Dr. Kurt Schackmuth
Chief Mission Officer and Vice President for Student Life, Lewis University

Kurt Schackmuth, Ph.D., serves as the chief mission officer and vice president for student life at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. He earned his doctorate in higher education from Loyola University Chicago, and holds both an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in history from Lewis University. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Schackmuth has contributed extensively to the Midwest District, Region, and Institute, holding numerous leadership and service roles. These include membership on the Midwest District Ministry Council, chairing the Regional Lasallian Education Council, and serving as a formator in the Brother John Johnston Institute. In October 2023, Brother Superior General Armin Luistro, FSC, appointed Dr. Schackmuth as the RELAN delegate to the International Council for Lasallian Association and the Educational Mission (CIAMEL). CIAMEL is one of the three governing Councils within the Institute’s global organizational structure. 

Kathrynne Skonicki 
Executive Director for Public Relations and Communications, Lewis University

Kathrynne Skonicki is the executive director for public relations and communications at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. She earned an MBA and a master’s degree in information security from Lewis University as well as a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana. A former newspaper writer/photographer for the Diocese of Joliet newspaper and television news producer for WLFI in West Lafayette, Indiana, Skonicki has received numerous awards. They include Publicity Club of Chicago Golden Trumpet Award for Crisis/Issues Management, Catholic Press Association Best Feature Writing, and Catholic Communication Campaign for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Special Series. As a faith-filled Catholic, she is active in her local faith community as a catechist at St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, Illinois, and a former member of the Joliet Diocesan Catholic School Board.