President’s Message
In addition to our campus on the 12th Floor, the New Yorker Hotel offers excellent facilities, including the Grand Ballroom, several meeting rooms on the 3rd floor, the Skyline Lounge on the 39th floor, and three excellent restaurants. All those who have visited the new campus are rightfully impressed.
We remain grateful to our Co-Founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han, and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification USA, led by President Demian Dunkley. Their support is foundational to the success of this great institution. Additionally, and on behalf of our Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students, I thank you—alumni, colleagues, friends—for your support and encouragement.
This annual report highlights many of the exciting programs and developments that have taken place throughout the past year. During 2025, HJI successfully convened a major international conference on “The Root Causes of Contemporary Threats to Religious Freedom” that drew participation from over 20 scholars from North America and Europe. HJI also launched the first issue of the International Journal for Peace and Public Leadership (IJPPL), and the first volume published by HJI Press, a volume authored by Dr. Theodore Shimmyo, entitled An Exploration of Unification Theology and the Christian Tradition.
A new Strategic Plan 2025-2030 was developed, including the creation of a new mission statement and strategic objectives that underscore increased collaboration with FFWPU USA; student success; faculty development; expanded partnerships; and strengthening alumni relations. The new mission statement is as follows:
“HJI provides advanced academic and professional education for women and men who aspire to serve the wider society and world as transformational leaders in faith-based ministries or professional fields related to religion, peace, and public leadership.”
The Strategic Plan is reviewed periodically by the Board of Trustees and by our faculty and staff in coordination with both our annual Institutional Assessment and our preparation for our next self-study with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, in 2032.
As always, our students continue to inspire us as they learn, grow, graduate and lead lives that bring great value to society and the world. We are so very proud of them, and of our alumni. In 2025 we are pleased to announce a growing contingent of new students from Africa and Latin America.
In closing I thank all our 2025 donors for their support. Thank you for keeping our institution in mind as we continually seek to move forward in accordance with the vision of our Founders and for the sake of our students, and the wider world.
On our donation page, you will find testimonies from our students, as well as an invitation to view the 2025 Annual Report, which contains highlights from this past year. We hope that those who have donated in the past will continue to give as we work together to fulfill our Founders’ hopes and expectations for this great institution.
God be with you and your families!
