Jonathan Rice joins Campus Ministry
Rev. Jonathan Rice with his wife Jenny and daughter Sophia
Georgetown University has hired Rev. Jonathan Rice as its Associate Director of Residential Ministry within the Office of Campus Ministry. According to Michelle Siemietkowski, “Residential Ministry has grown significantly over the past seven years, with increased professional expectations of the chaplains, such as educational and social programming, pastoral counseling, spiritual direction, and support to students in crisis. Jon is the perfect professional to fill this role of Associate Director at this time, given his own training, pastoral skills and experience; his strong leadership gifts; and his inspiring vision rooted in Ignatian spirituality. He has everything we need to lead this incredibly gifted team of professional chaplains here at Georgetown.”
Although new to the position, Rice is not new to Georgetown or residential ministry. Before accepting the position, he was a Chaplain-in-Residence (CIR) here at Georgetown. Rice received his B.A. in Pastoral Ministries from Central Bible College and his M.S. in Human Services Counseling from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
Before his time at Georgetown, Rice was the appointed staff director for Chi Alpha, an affiliated Protestant ministry. Chi Alpha’s national staff asked Rice to lead their Georgetown chapter, and, in the short time he supervised their development the chapter flourished from a handful of students into a large thriving and dynamic affiliated ministry.
“The Ignatian tradition and spirituality have been a huge influence on me,” Rice says, noting that the university’s Jesuit tradition and the teachings of St. Ignatius have deeply enriched his own faith and practice. Praying the Spiritual Exercises (a dynamic compilation of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius Loyola to help people deepen their relationship with God) informed his ministry and prayer in his everyday life. “God does in you what he wants to do through you,” he says explaining that he feels that his life is a call to service. But he isn’t all work. A dedicated husband and father who loves to run and read fiction, Rice admits to having a minor coffee obsession and thinking he’s “more tech savvy than [he] actually is.”
Starting in his new role on January 2nd, Rice led chaplain orientations, meetings, and a reflection for student Resident Advisors training. “He has truly hit the ground running and is doing a wonderful job,” says Siemietkowski.
“[I’ve] inherited a wonderful program. I hope to steward and build upon what was left [to me],” Rice says citing that residential ministry here at Georgetown has greatly flourished due to Siemietkowski’s leadership and direction. He is proud to join the Campus Ministry team and to continue enriching dialogues and deepening conversations on campus.
Jeremy Koss
Communications & Outreach Coordinator