Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH, D.Min is the Director of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives (1978- present) and Professor in the Department of Religious Studies of the University of Dayton (a Catholic / Marianist University). She is a Marianist Education Associate (MEA) and has been teaching at UD for over 34 years.

She is a member of the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart (Towson, MD) and in June 2008 finished eight years on her Community’s Leadership Board – Councilor/Vice President. She has served as visiting professor at Crec Avex (Lyon, France) for 12 years. She is co-director of the Caribbean School of Catholic Communications founded in 1994(Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad / Tobago, West Indies). She served as the UNDA USA President (1987-1993), UNDA North American President (1990-1994) and the UNDA World President (International Catholic Association for Radio and Television) from 1994-2002. She served as Chairperson for the UNDA/OCIC Planning Committee for the World Congresses in Prague, Czech Republic (1994), Montreal, Canada (1998) and Rome, Italy (2001). She was a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (Vatican) 1994-2002.

Zukowski has been involved with distance education for over 40 years. She began with Cable TV in 1971 and continued to advance into radio, satellite communication, multimedia, computer technologies and now the Internet and digital technologies. Her current work in this area is the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) online courses in English and Spanish. The VLCFF was initiated in 1999 with one diocese and two courses. Today there are over 55 VLCFF Diocesan Partners, e-courses are offered in 40 plus countries. Over 112 e-courses and seven online certificate programs are available in seven cycles with approximately 4500 - 5000 e-students per year (2012). She has also spearheaded the UD’s Virtual Conference Center with expanding interactive innovations underway.

RESEARCH:

Zukowski’s current research is in designing prototypes for interactive e- learning for Catholic education, adult faith, lay ecclesial leadership and catechist formation through the VLCFF and the University of Dayton’s online graduate programs. She is particularly interested in the influence, or impact that the digital culture is having on new ways of being human in the 21st century. A special research interest is building on the work of Fr. Pierre Babin, OMI (with whom she was associated for twelve years in Lyon, France) for re-imagining his Symbolic Way in the light of the digital culture.

TEACHING:

Within the Department of Religious Studies, Zukowski teaches MA courses in Pastoral Planning, Adult Faith Formation and Leadership and Ministry. On the undergraduate level she coordinates the FORUM for Young Catechetical Leaders, a two year catechetical formation program for UD students, as well as courses in Religion and Film and Vocation and the Arts. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Education (UD) associated with their online Master’s Degree in Catholic Educational Leadership.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Zukowski serves on several boards related to Catholic Education, the Catholic Leadership Academy Planning Committee (the United States), Board of Governors of CREDI (Catholic Religious Education Development Initiative) – Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies and animator for Mary Queen of Peace (five schools/parishes which merged) as a consultant for cultivating a Beatitude Culture within the school, families and local neighborhood communities.

As a past member of the Catholic Education Collaborative Board of Trustees and Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, she explored and continues to explore new ways for revitalizing the Catholic Urban Community with particular focus on Catholic Education and faith formation.

Zukowski also gives workshops, seminars and lectures around the world. She serves as an international consultant on the application of new digital media resources for ministry and leadership. Her workshops range from designing new digital methodologies for learning, transformational leadership, nurturing dialogue skills and spiritual formation in a digital era. In September 2012 she will be addressing the Asian Bishop in Communications and Seminary Rectors in Bangkok. In January she will be speaking at a Clergy Symposium and a Catechetical Conference in Dubai (Arabia).