04/21/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/21/2026 11:14
The Executive Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership and Innovation at Saint Francis University invites each cohort to leave a meaningful mark-one that reflects both their collective identity and our Franciscan mission. For the Aggiornamento 2023 Cohort, this calling has come to life through their Legacy & Service Project: a collaborative mosaic that embodies transformation, community, and enduring faith in service.
This artwork-designed by artist and Ed.D. scholar Erin Riggi-represents more than creative expression. It stands as a tangible symbol of the cohort's journey through leadership, innovation, and reflection. From its earliest concept to the meticulous placement of each glass tile, the mosaic has been a labor of shared vision and collaboration. Every cohort member has contributed to its creation, demonstrating the servant leadership, unity, and perseverance that define our program's culture.
Rooted in the Franciscan values of humility, service, and community, the Legacy & Service Project encourages each Executive Ed.D. Cohort to discern how they will give back-not only to the University but to the broader world they serve. For Aggiornamento, this meant channeling the spirit of renewal (aggiornamento meaning "bringing up to date") into a lasting work that connects past, present, and future scholars.
The mosaic's installation on the top floor of the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness serves as a daily reminder of the program's transformative journey-one that calls all who pass by to consider their own role in creating a legacy of service.
Each cohort's Legacy & Service Project is intentionally designed as a capstone act of gratitude and transformation. It represents the culmination of years of rigorous study, personal growth, and collective discovery. For the Aggiornamento 2023 scholars, the mosaic is not simply art-it is testimony: a reflection of what it means to lead with purpose, innovate with compassion, and build something enduring together.
The completed piece was unveiled and blessed during the Spring Residency, marking both an ending and a beginning-an invitation for future cohorts to continue the chain of legacy, faith, and service that defines the Saint Francis University Executive Ed.D. community. The Aggiornamento 2023 Cohort will graduate as part of the Class of 2026 on May 9.
Learn more about the Saint Francis University Executive Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Innovation-and begin your own transformative journey- at https://www.francis.edu/EDD.