Member News

Rochester, N.Y. – Roberts Wesleyan University has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative 2025. The project, titled “Immersive Formation: Equipping for the Future,” will strengthen and expand Northeastern Seminary’s online theological education to help prepare Christ-centered women and men for faithful and effective service to the church and the world.

 

Northeastern Seminary is one of 58 theological schools being supported through the latest round of Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, which seeks to strengthen the educational and leadership capacities of theological schools across North America.

 

“We are deeply grateful to Lilly Endowment for recognizing Northeastern Seminary’s vision for theological innovation and formation,” Academic Dean of Northeastern Seminary Dr. Josef Sykora said. “This grant will strengthen biblical engagement, enrich ministry and pastoral skill development, and foster deeper connections among students, faculty, and our broader community. We are excited to collaborate with our new partner, CampusXR, in exploring and implementing virtual reality and other immersive learning tools in online education and the Leadership Center on reimagining field education placements. We are convinced that these immersive experiences will enhance student engagement and support our continued growth in enrollment and impact.”

 

The Seminary will undertake a comprehensive redesign of its online programs, focusing on two key areas, including enhancing online learning design and delivery to ensure a consistent, high-quality student experience, including improved field placements and digital learning tools, as well as integrating emerging technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence to create immersive, formative training experiences.

 

Northeastern Seminary expects this initiative to significantly enrich their students’ online and formative experience, particularly in three mission-aligned key areas: deep theological understanding, vibrant spiritual formation, and faithful and relevant ministry equipment.

 

“Through this partnership, we anticipate a deeper engagement and comprehension of the Bible, enhanced competence in the development of ministry and pastoral skills, vibrant connection among students and faculty, and an increased engagement with the Seminary’s virtual reality and AI courses and experiences,” added Sykora.

 

By leveraging new technologies, Northeastern Seminary aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world ministry.

 

For more information about Lilly Endowment, visit here.

 

About Roberts Wesleyan University

Roberts Wesleyan University is New York’s leading university for character education. Committed to the development of the whole person, the institution is focused on student growth through Christ-centered education, transformational learning and service to others. With more than 1750, students and a tradition of excellence since 1866, the university strives to inspire students to transform themselves and the world, and offers over 100 undergraduate, graduate, professional,  adult-degree completion and seminary programs taught by high-quality, supportive faculty. Roberts Wesleyan University also has two doctoral programs in clinical/school psychology and occupational therapy. Redhawks Athletics intercollegiate sports teams compete as members of NCAA Division II. For more information, visit roberts.edu/about.

 

About Northeastern Seminary

Northeastern Seminary is a private Wesleyan seminary located on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, New York. Rooted in biblical and historic Christian faith, its mission is to prepare Christ-centered women and men for faithful and effective service to the church and the world. With over thirty denominations and faith groups represented, Northeastern Seminary fosters a vibrant, ecumenical learning community dedicated to deep theological understanding, spiritual formation, and service. For more information, visit nes.edu.

 

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with its own governing board, staff, and location. The Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen pastoral and lay leadership. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe. https://lillyendowment.org.

 

About CampusXR

CampusXR is the first company to offer a full suite of immersive reality technologies to

education institutions in a way that is easy-to-use, affordable, and revolutionizes how you engage digital and camera-native Gen Z students. A digital media agency dedicated to providing educational institutions with the VR and AR products that brings campuses and student experiences to life, CampusXR is uniquely positioned to help institutions navigate the intersection of XR technology and educational multimedia. For more information, visit https://campus-xr.org.

 

About Leadership Center

Leadership Center is a woman-owned leadership development firm. Founded by Dr. Trisha Welstad in 2012, Leadership Center partners with leaders, teams, and institutions to grow love, creativity, and risk-taking in the world through leadership development and activation. Its work spans higher education, nonprofit, corporate, and faith-based sectors, equipping individuals and organizations to lead with courage, clarity, and purpose. For more information, visit leadershipcenter.com.