Le Moyne to Host Jesuit Working Toward the Establishment of Hekima University in Kenya

Published: 

For the past 20 years, the Eastern Africa Province of the Society of Jesus has been discerning the need for establishing a Jesuit university within its province. In a letter dated Feb. 10, 2022 Arturo Sosa, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, officially mandated the establishment of a university, which would be the first in Eastern Africa.

Since that mandate, the province has worked on a number of fronts to develop various strategies to work toward the founding of the proposed Hekima University in Nairobi, Kenya. One key area that needs to be developed is an advancement office.

To help on that front, Endashaw Debrework, S.J., a Jesuit from the Eastern Africa Province, will spend the next eight months at Le Moyne in an internship assignment where he will learn about the structure, roles, challenges and opportunities of a college advancement office.

“Given that the institution is in its nascent stages, Father Debrework will need to learn advancement operations but also the philosophy of how advancement fits within the higher education ecosystem,” said President Linda LeMura. “In light of the scale, size and scope of Le Moyne’s advancement office, this will be the perfect opportunity for him to learn from the ground up. In addition, Le Moyne has distinguished itself as an institution that prepares successful academic leaders, from the deans’ level through the college presidency.” One example she gave: five Jesuits and seven lay employees have gone on to become presidents after leaving Le Moyne.

The assignment at Le Moyne came following a recommendation by Michael Garanzini, S.J., president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU). Another factor, according to LeMura, was the “work and cache the College has earned through its involvement with the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU).” LeMura serves on the IAJU’s executive board.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity accorded to me by Le Moyne College and the Jesuit community,” said Father Debrework. “I also want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Father Garanzini for his invaluable support.”

Father Debrework will begin his assignment on Oct. 1 and work through May 2024 at Le Moyne. He will reside in the Loyola Jesuit Residence.