Through a creative alliance between Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University and Le Moyne College, the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry (FELM) offers a dynamic and distinctive setting to form leaders who are empowered to thrive within challenging times.
Those who participate in the Fellowship focus on various aspects of leadership development, with the goal of thriving vocationally and enhancing the vitality of the communities they serve. Drawing deeply on the latest research in leadership, the primary goals of the program are as follows:
- Provide knowledge and skills for increased impact in leadership, team-building and community-building
- Nurture self-awareness and ongoing personal spiritual development
- Increase effectiveness and a sense of accomplishment
- Share educational and other relevant resources
- Raise the level of vocational fulfillment.
The Ideal Candidate for this Program
The ideal candidates for the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry include faith-based leaders in central New York. Typically, participants will have more than three (3) years of experience.
This program is suitable for leaders of Christian churches (parishes, congregations) of any size – not only senior pastors (ministers) in large, flourishing, established churches but also pastoral leaders of small, newly established churches (congregations, parishes).
This is a selective program with a competitive application process. Those interested in participation will be required to submit an application and request a sponsoring statement from a supervisor, board member within the organization, or a community leader who is thoroughly familiar with you and can provide a detailed, firsthand appraisal.
Applicants should be prepared for, and comfortable with, engaging in an in-depth spiritual renewal and leadership discernment process in a supportive environment.
Program Costs
Thanks to generous funding from the Lilly Endowment and support provided by Syracuse University and Le Moyne College, this program is offered at no cost to participants. Tuition, accommodations and most meals will be covered by the Thriving in Ministry Grant. Please note that travel to and from the residencies and program materials will be at the candidate’s expense.
Program Leaders
Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, interim dean of Hendricks Chapel, brings four decades of student life experience and a deep commitment to Syracuse University to this role. She first joined the University in the 1980s as a residence hall director. She went on to hold positions at the University of California, Berkeley and Hamilton College before returning to Syracuse in 2002 as director of residence life.
Following 10 years in senior leadership in the Division of the Student Experience, Kantrowitz was appointed associate dean of Hendricks Chapel in 2018. There she has skillfully supported our chaplaincies, religious and spiritual life groups, and the Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders, while overseeing critical initiatives including the Student Opportunity Fund and University food pantries.
Her leadership extends across campus through her service on the University Senate and into our broader community as a board member of InterFaith Works of Central New York. This combination of institutional knowledge, interfaith expertise and commitment to student well-being positions her to successfully guide Hendricks Chapel during this time of transition.
When not at the Chapel, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family and reading the New York Times.
Karin Botto, Ph.D. serves as Senior HR Business Partner at Syracuse University. In this role, she partners with senior leaders to shape, develop, and deliver HR plans and strategy in line with the needs and priorities of the organization, including: organizational development, performance management, recruitment, retention, professional development, workforce planning, employee relations, benefits and compensation. Prior to this role, she was the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources & Organizational Development at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, and Executive Director of Organizational Development & Ignatian Leadership at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Karin co-developed a model of Ignatian Leadership published in the Journal of Jesuit Business Education in 2015. She also co-authored a chapter of Success After Tenure (2018) with Stylus Publishing, and wrote a chapter of Women Courageous: Leading through the Labrynith (2021) with Emerald Publishing. Karin has served as a faculty member for AJCU’s Ignatian Colleagues Program capstone experience and AJCU’s Leadership Institute since 2014.
In April 2019, she was one of five individuals and the only woman invited to represent the United States and Canadian Conference at the Jesuit Curia in Rome for a global meeting on Ignatian Leadership. Best practices were shared with the goal of creating a more comprehensive model of developing leaders of Jesuit organizations.
Karin holds a doctoral degree in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University and Masters of Science in Training & Organizational Development from Saint Joseph’s University. Her areas of focus include leadership development, group dynamics, coaching and mentoring, sustainability leadership, management training, and Ignatian Spirituality. She is certified to use the Emotional & Social Competency Inventory through The Hay Group and Benchmark’s 360 Assessment Suite through The Center for Creative Leadership.a Master
Clarissa Flores is the Assistant Director of Field Education at Harvard Divinity School. In this position, Clarissa helps graduate students discern their ministry internship placements as a component of their Master of Divinity degree program. In 2018, she joined the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry leadership team as the Program Manager.
Flores holds a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. She also studied education at Santa Clara University and participated in the Excellence in Catholic Education and Leadership program in the Diocese of San Jose. Clarissa taught and tutored K-12 students and directed the Campus Ministry program at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas.
Clarissa loves spending time with her family and is a proud Tía to her nieces and nephews. She is often traveling to visit loved ones in Texas, attending her brothers’ football games, and virtually training with family and friends for half marathons across the country.
Marie Paul is currently a Senior Integrated Planning Lead at Lockheed Martin. In this position, she is a trusted advisor to the Program Manager and responsible for tracking cost and schedule on a large-scale program. Prior to her career in the defense industry, Marie served as Assistant to the Dean of Hendricks Chapel where she implemented business rhythms to ensure timely outcomes, and emphasis on high priority items. Marie joined the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry team in 2019, to assist in the areas of logistics and technical support. Ms. Paul is a proud Syracuse, NY native. After completing a Lasallian education at Christian Brothers Academy (Dewitt, NY), she pursued a Bachelor of Science from Lemoyne College (Syracuse, NY), with a degree in Industrial Relations. Since graduation, her professional development has been focused on Human Resources and Project Management. Paul takes an active role in community leadership. She has served the Camp Kesem Chapter at Syracuse University, Girl Scouts of America, and spent 10 years on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Consortium, culminating in her service as President of the Board. Ms. Paul currently resides in Syracuse, NY with her family.