Founder & Director | Dr. Geoffrey R. Dillon, S.J.

After several trips to Belize, first as an observer and then as a participant, Dr. Jeff Dillon, S.J., a member of the USF School of Education faculty, began to see an exciting potential in Belize. Several avenues of opportunity might serve both the interests of the community of Dangriga and advance the lived expression of the Mission of the University of San Francisco.  With the endorsement of the President of USF and the Dean of the School of Education, Dr. Dillon founded Project Learn Belize  in October of 2007. To the people of Dangriga, he is affectionately known simply as “dd”.

A member of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), Dr. Dillon is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco. He is currently the Clinical~Field Director of the Teacher Education Department, and the previous Chair of the Department (2005-2013). Dr. Dillon has taught graduate courses in Education Leadership, Education Philosophy, and Methods of Educational Research. His dissertation, Catholic Secondary-School Principals’ Perceptions of Their Involvement in School-Initiated Student Referrals for Psychological Evaluations (U.S.F., 1997), was inspired by his graduate work in psychology, as well as his eight years as principal of Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas (1985-1993). Dr. Dillon is a graduate of Spring Hill College (A.B., Philosophy, Theology, Fine Arts), Harvard University (Ed. M., Educational Administration), and the Weston School of Theology (M. Div., Theology).

Among his work on national educational boards, he is a Regional Associate for the Secondary Department of the National Catholic Educational Association, having previously served on its Executive Committee, as well as a frequent chairperson and presenter at their annual convention. His workshops for schools include the M.B.T.I., communications strategies, organizational behavior & interventions, models of educational leadership, and school partnerships with mental health services. In addition to working with private and public school districts in the Bay Area, Dr. Dillon is a board member of the San Francisco Teacher Residency program. At USF, he serves on the advisory boards of the Leo T. McCarthy Center, the University Council on Jesuit Mission, and co-chair of the Jesuit Foundation.