Scholars’ Forum in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition
"A university is a reproductive organ of cultural community. Its constitutive endowment lies not in buildings or equipment, civil status or revenues, but in the intellectual life of its professors. Its central function is the communication of intellectual development."
- Bernard Lonergan, "The Catholic University in the Modern World"
The Scholars’ Forum in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition consists of faculty talking about their recently published or soon-to-be published books, related in one way or another with the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. It takes place on Microsoft Teams, usually monthly, on Wednesday, at 4 p.m.
The Forum is sponsored by the University Core, the Catholic Studies Program, the Center for Catholic Studies and Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology.
Academic Year 2022-2023
Donovan Sherman, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the
English Department
Presented on his book, The Philosopher's Toothache: Embodied Stoicism in Early Modern English Drama (Northwestern University Press, 2021).
Dermot Quinn, D.Phil., Professor of History in the College of Arts and Sciences and
editor of The Chesterton Review
Presented his scholarship on the English Catholic writer, G. K. Chesterton, in light
of the 100th anniversary of his conversion. He also reflected on the reasons for Chesterton's
becoming a Catholic and his continuing significance.
Gregory Floyd, Sr., Assistant Director of the Center for Diaconal Formation at Immaculate
Conception Seminary School of Theology
Presented on his book, Unforgettable: How Remembering God’s Presence in Our Past Brings Hope to Our Future (Paraclete Press, 2022).
Jeffrery Morrow, Professor of Undergraduate Theology in Immaculate Conception Seminary
School of Theology
Presented on his recent book, Murmuring Against Moses: The Contentious History and Contested Future of Pentateuchal
Studies, co-authored with John S. Bergsma (Emmaus Academic, 2023).
Academic Year 2021-2022
David Opderbeck, J.D., Ph.D. of the School of Law
Presented on his new book, The End of the Law? Law, Theology, and Neuroscience (Cascade Books, Veritas series, August 2021).
Stacy Transancos, Ph.D., faculty member in the Catholic Studies Program
Presented on her new book, Particles of Faith: Student Edition (Ave Maria Press, August 2019).
Allan Wright, M.A., faculty member in the Catholic Studies Program and ICSST
Presented on his book, Loch-Arbour: A Hidden Life and a Tragic Death at the Jersey Shore (August, 2021).
Thomas Rzeznik, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the History Department and University
Core teacher
Presented on his book, The Cambridge Companion to American Catholicism (Cambridge, May, 2021), co-edited
with Margaret M. McGuinness.
Elizabeth Redwine, Ph.D., English Department and Coordinator of Core I
presented on her book, Gender, Performance, and Authorship at the Abbey Theatre (Oxford UP, May 2021).
Ruth Tsuria, Ph.D. of the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media
presented on her recent book, Digital Media: Understanding Religious Practice in Digital Media, co-edited with Heidi A. Campbell (Routledge, 2021).
Academic Year 2020-2021
Roger Alfani, Ph.D.
Learn more about his book, Religious Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Peter Savastano, Ph.D.
Learn more about his book, Merton & Indigenous Wisdom.
Jeffrey Morrow, Ph.D.
Learn more about his book, Modern Biblical Criticism as a Tool of Statecraft (1700-1900).
Patrick Manning, Ph.D.
Learn more about his book, Converting the Imagination: Teaching to Recover Jesus' Vision for Fullness of Life.
Justin Anderson, Ph.D.
Learn more about his book, Virtue and Grace in the Theology of Thomas Aquinas.