Roxana Burns
rburns@SanDiego.edu
(619) 260-4656
Vice President, Mission Integration
Lecturer II, Theology and Religious Studies
- PhD, University of San Diego, Leadership Studies
- MBA, Santa Clara Univerity, Business Administration
- MDiv, Jesuit School of Theology, Divinity
- BSBA, John Carroll University, Finance
As Vice President, Dr. Lovette-Colyer leads the division of Mission Integration in its work of collaborating with all members of the university community to weave the mission, vision and values of the institution into every aspect of campus life. He provides strategic direction and ongoing oversight to the six units that comprise the division: University Ministry, the Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness and Social Action, the Changemaker Hub, the Frances G. Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Office of Mission and the Care for Our Common Home Pathway. Additionally, he holds primary responsibility for the university’s strategic planning initiatives.
In order to promote the understanding of, appreciation for and participation in the mission of the institution, Michael designed and implemented extended, cohort-based formation programs for faculty and staff. In addition to these signature offerings, Mission Integration sponsors a wide range of events, programs, gatherings, service projects, immersion experiences and liturgies which manifest the Catholic mission of the university and provide students and employees with lived experiences of USD’s core values.
During the 2022-23 academic year, Michael coordinated a university-wide process to review and refresh the university’s mission, vision and statement of core values. In January of 2024, working in collaboration with a team of USD faculty and administrators, Dr. Lovette-Colyer led the highly successful effort to host a national conference on the future of Catholic higher education. Titled “Lighting the Way Forward,” the conference brought to campus more than 250 scholars, practitioners and thought-leaders from over 40 Catholic colleges and universities across the country.
In the summer of 2024, Michael was charged with leading the university’s strategic planning process. Extensive consultation with the campus community resulted in the creation of the Lighting the Way to 2030 Strategic Plan, which was unanimously approved the Board of Trustees in December of 2024.
Dr. Lovette-Colyer joined the university in 2007 as Director of University Ministry and was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Mission and Ministry in 2011. Under his leadership, University Ministry greatly expanded its retreat programs as well as its community engagement initiatives.
Michael earned his undergraduate degree from John Carroll University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology, a Master of Business Administration degree from Santa Clara University and his Ph.D. from the University of San Diego. He serves as an adjunct faculty member in USD’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies teaching Introduction to Catholic Theology. In recent semesters, Michael has also taught graduate courses in the School of Leadership and Educational Sciences including Leadership and Organizational Change, Leadership and Spirituality and Ethical Leadership for Global Social Justice.
Before joining USD, he held various leadership roles at Santa Clara University’s Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education and worked in Campus Ministry at the University of San Francisco. He also served as a caseworker at Casa Del Migrante in Tijuana, Mexico, and dedicated a year to full-time service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
In addition to his work on campus, Dr. Lovette-Colyer is as a member of the board of trustees for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of San Diego, the Catholic Campus Ministry Association and Nativity Prep Academy.