Department

• Education

Position

• Assistant Professor

• EDL605 - Foundations of Catholic Education
• EDL607 - School Improvement
• EDL609 - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment I
• EDL610 - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment II
• EDL619 - School Culture
• EDL622 - School Law
• EDL626 - Strategic Resourcing
• EDL627 - Strategic and Political Leadership
• EDL639/640 - School Leadership Internship I
• EDL643/644 - School Leadership Internship II

A native of New Hampshire, Dr. Fussell has enjoyed a successful career as an educator and leader in both public and Catholic schools. Prior to joining the Education Department faculty at Creighton, Dr. Fussell was the Associate Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Manchester (NH), where he led innovative efforts to improve diocesan curricula, leadership development, teacher and principal evaluation, and Catholic school identity in service to 26 schools and nearly 6000 Catholic school students in the State of New Hampshire.

Dr. Fussell is a core faculty member in Creighton's innovative educational leadership programs.  He teaches courses for aspiring Catholic school leaders, and he directs the Graduate Certificate in Catholic School Leadership.  Outside of the classroom, Dr. Fussell serves as a volunteer review board member for the Nebraska Foster Care Review Office and engages in other service work in the greater Omaha community.

A passionate advocate for Catholic education, Dr. Fussell is honored to have a national voice regarding important topics such as lay Catholic educator faith formation, Catholic school identity, and Catholic school leadership development. Dr. Fussell is a frequent presenter at local and national conferences for Catholic education and he is available for professional development for Catholic schools and dioceses seeking to strengthen Catholic school identity across all aspects of school life.

Books

• Engel, M., Brock, B., Simonds, T., Hearn, J., Fussell, R., & Cook, T., (2019). Your school's Catholic identity: Name it, claim it, and build on it. Arlington, VA: National Catholic Educational Association, National Catholic Educational Association, 2020

Articles

• Fussell, R. (2020). Gather us in: Building meaningful relationships in Catholic schools amid a COVID-19 context. Journal of Catholic Education (23)2., Journal of Catholic Education, 23, 2020
• Fussell, R. (2019). Forming Hearts in Times of Crisis: How Catholic School Leaders Cultivate Community when Times are Tough. Momentum, 50(4)., Momentum, Vol. 50, Issue 4, To Be Determined, 2019
• Fussell, R. (2019). Heart and Hands: The Importance of Meaningful Service in the Catholic School Community. Momentum, 50(3)., Momentum, Vol. 50, Issue 3, 30 - 33, 2019
• Fussell, R. (2019). Prayerful Reflection and Personal Encounter: Essential Elements for Forming the Hearts of Catholic School Educators. Momentum, 50(2)., Momentum, Vol. 50, Issue 2, 18 - 21, 2019
• Fussell, R. (2019). Tending Your Flock – The Catholic School Leader’s Role in Building a Professional Faith Community. Momentum, 50(1)., Momentum, Vol. 50, Issue 1, 22-24, 2019
• Fussell, R. (2016). Sowing seeds of leadership through an aspiring leadership academy. Momentum, 47(3)., Momentum, Vol. 47, Issue 3, 2016
• Fussell, R. (2013). It’s not about the technology, it’s about the relationships. Momentum, 44(4), 36-38., Momentum, Vol. 44, Issue 4, 36 - 38, 2013
• Fussell, R. (2012). Catholic schools serve students by providing a sanctuary in the open heart of Christ.  Momentum, 43(2), 44-46., Momentum, Vol. 43, Issue 2, 44 - 46, 2012
• Fussell, R. (2021). Feed My Sheep: A Framework for Lay Educator Faith Formation in Catholic Schools. Journal of Catholic Education (24)1., Journal of Catholic Education, Vol. 24, Issue 1, 0000
• Simonds, T. A., Cook, T. J., Engel, M. T., Fussell, R., & Hearn, J. (2021). Preparing pastors to be leaders of parish schools. Journal of Catholic Education. (24)1., Journal of Catholic Education, Vol. 24, Issue 1, 0000
• Cook, T., Fussell, R., Simonds, T. (TBD). Retention and turnover of Catholic school superintendents. International Studies in Catholic Education (in review), International Studies in Catholic Education, 0000

Publications

• Fussell, R. (2017, July) Steering the battleship: Change is at the Heart of Catholic school improvement. NCEA Talk [Online Blog] , National Catholic Educational Association, 2016

Presentations

• Fussell, R. (2021, February 23). Charism as the Face of the Church: Leading Through Relationships.  Lasallian Regional Formation Institute.  (presented online due to COVID-19), 2021
• Fussell, R. (2021, February 9). Charism as the Face of the Church: Looking Inward.  Lasallian Regional Formation Institute.  (presented online due to COVID-19), 2021
• Cook, T., Fussell, R., Simonds, T., (2020, September). Stories of the Catholic School Superintendency: Things Need To Change. (presented online at the NCEA Catholic Leadership Summit due to COVID -19)., 2020
• Fussell, R. (2020, May). Inspired Design: Teaching Faith in All Content Areas. Omaha, NE (presented online due to COVID-19), 2020
• Fussell, R. (2020, April). Inspiried Design: Illuminating Catholic School Curriculum with the Light of Faith. NCEA Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD (Accepted), 2020
• Fussell, R. (2020, February 20). Leading from the Heart: Faith Leadership in Catholic Schools. Intermountain Principals’ Consortium. Salt Lake City, UT, 2020
• Fussell, R., Cook, T., & Hearn, J. (2019, October). Supporting Pastors as Leaders of Catholic Schools. NCEA Catholic Leadership Summit. Newport, RI., 2019
• Fussell, R. (2019, October 11). United in Mission, Intent on One Purpose [Faculty Retreat].  Malden Catholic High School.  Malden, MA., 2019
• Fussell, R., (2019, August 14). The Joy of Catholic Education - Sharing Faith to Transform Hearts and Minds [Half-day Faculty Retreat].  St. James/Seton School.  Omaha, NE., 2019
• Fussell, R. (2019, March 13). Project Based Learning and Differentiated Instruction.  Adelbrook School System. Manchester/Cromwell, CT., 2019
• Fussell, R. (2018, October 19). Animating our Faith in a Collegial Culture: Cultivating Relationships of Respect and Harmony. St. Stephen the Martyr School.  Omaha, NE (full day retreat)., 2018
• Fussell R., & Cook, T. (2018, October 9). Animating our Faith: Engaging Core Values to Cultivate Catholic School Identity. Mundelein, IL. (full-day educator workshop), 2018
• Simonds, T. & Fussell, R. (2018, July). A Total Plan to be Known as Catholic: Resource Allocation.  NCEA Institute for Catholic School Leaders. Los Angeles, CA, 2018
• Fussell, R. (2018, June) Steering the Battleship: Managing the Change Process in a Catholic School. Iowa Catholic Administrators Conference. Des Moines, IA, 2018
• Cook, T. & Fussell, R. (2018, March) Kindling the Flame: Faith Leadership in Catholic Schools. Presentation for Midwest Province Jesuit Principals. Omaha, NE, 2018
• Fussell, R. (2017, July). Steering the Battleship: Managing the Change Process in a Catholic School.  NCEA Institute for Catholic School Leaders.  Boston, MA., 2017
• Fussell, R. (2016, October 24). Feed My Sheep: A Framework for Lay Educator Faith Formation.  NCEA Catholic School Leadership Summit.  Indianapolis, IA., 2016
• Fussell, R. (2016, September 14). Feed My Sheep: A Framework for Lay Educator Faith Formation.  Diocese of Manchester.  Manchester, NH (presentation for Catholic school administrators in northern New England), 2016
• Fussell, R. (2016, July 20). Bridging the Gap Between Lay Educator Formation and Catholic School Identity.  NCEA Institute for Catholic School Leaders.  Omaha, NE., 2016
• Fussell, R. (2016, July 18). Cultivating Emerging Leadership with an Aspiring Leadership Program.  NCEA Institute for Catholic School Leaders.  Omaha, NE., 2016

Research and Scholarship Interests

• Catholic School Leadership, Catholic School Mission and Identity, Lay Educator Faith Formation, Teacher Professional Development

Grant Funding Received

• The Catalyst Program - A Mentoring Program for Aspiring Catholic School Principals. (Catholic School Initiatives Grant - $6,000)
• The Catalyst Program - A Mentoring Program for Aspiring Catholic School Principals. (Catholic School Initiatives Grant - $5,000)

• Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award, Creighton University Graduate School, 2020
• Outstanding Dissertation Award, Creighton University, 2016
• School Administrator of the Year, New Hampshire Music Educators Association, 2014