Richard Ryscavage
Encyclopedia
Richard Ryscavage S.J., a nationally-known expert on immigration
and refugee
policy and issues, is director of the Center for Faith and Public Life and a professor of sociology and international studies at Fairfield University
in Fairfield, Connecticut
.
Ryscavage was executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Office of Migration and Refugee Services in Washington, D.C. He was also president of Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services, set up by the bishops to help new immigrants.
He served as national director of Jesuit Refugee Service USA
, a nongovernmental organization operating in fifty countries. He organized the first program to provide religious coordinators for immigration detention facilities of the United States Department of Homeland Security
.
In 2006 Ryscavage was appointed official adviser to the delegation of the Holy See
to the 61st United Nations General Assembly
. He participated as one of the Vatican representatives in the “High Level Dialogue on Migration” convened by the UN Secretary General in September 2006.
Ryscavage received his bachelor's degree and an honorary doctorate from Assumption College
. He earned his master's degrees in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, political philosophy from Boston College
, divinity from the Weston School of Theology and international administration from the School for International Training
.
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
policy and issues, is director of the Center for Faith and Public Life and a professor of sociology and international studies at Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
.
Ryscavage was executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
Office of Migration and Refugee Services in Washington, D.C. He was also president of Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services, set up by the bishops to help new immigrants.
He served as national director of Jesuit Refugee Service USA
Jesuit Refugee Service
The Jesuit Refugee Service is an international Catholic organization that aids refugees, forcibly displaced peoples, and asylum seekers. JRS operates at national and regional levels. Founded in November, 1980 as a work of the Society of Jesus, JRS was officially registered on March 19, 2000 in...
, a nongovernmental organization operating in fifty countries. He organized the first program to provide religious coordinators for immigration detention facilities of the United States Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
.
In 2006 Ryscavage was appointed official adviser to the delegation of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to the 61st United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
. He participated as one of the Vatican representatives in the “High Level Dialogue on Migration” convened by the UN Secretary General in September 2006.
Ryscavage received his bachelor's degree and an honorary doctorate from Assumption College
Assumption College
Assumption College is a private, Roman Catholic, liberal arts college located on 185 acres in Worcester, Massachusetts. Assumption has an enrollment of about 2,117 undergraduates...
. He earned his master's degrees in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, political philosophy from Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, divinity from the Weston School of Theology and international administration from the School for International Training
School for International Training
SIT Graduate Institute is the accredited college program of World Learning in Brattleboro, Vermont. The president and CEO is Adam Weinberg.History=SIT Graduate Institute began as the Experiment for International Living...
.