Position
Academic Background  
Sample Courses
Teaching Philosophy
Research & Interests
Notable Academic Appointments & Awards
Publication Highlights
Selected Scholarly Presentations

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Position            

• Associate Professor of History

Academic Background         

• Harvard University - Th.D. in Church History
• Aquinas Institute of Philosophy - M.A. in Philosophy
• Aquinas Institute of Theology - M.A. in Theology
• Harvard University - M.A. in Church History
• Aquinas Institute of Philosophy - B.A. in Philosophy

Sample Courses Taught at Providence College   

• First Year Development of Western Civilization
• Arts Honors: First Year Development of Western Civilization
• Medieval Church History
• Reformation Church History
• History of Modern Spirituality

Teaching Philosophy            

Education is always a dialog. I have a certain amount of knowledge but so do the students and the basis of our dialog is our common experience in daily life. I try to teach in such a way that their experience is broadened by my lectures and the questions that follow. Every student has within himself or herself the potential to learn, to grow and to teach me something that is important for my own growth as a human person and a teacher.

Research & Interests               

My academic passion is history. On the undergraduate level in the Western Civilization courses, I'm always teaching with three other people -- from literature, philosophy, and theology -- and a fertile dialog exists between myself and these faculty members. This exchange regularly provides me with fresh insights into my understanding of history and this in turn enlivens what I teach my students.

Notable Academic Appointments and Awards

• Vice President for Academic Administration, Providence College, 1993-1996
• Vice President and Academic Dean, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois, 1987–1992
• President, Aquinas Institute of Theology, Dubuque, Iowa, 1978-1981
• President of the Schools of Theology, Dubuque, Iowa, 1978-1981

Publication Highlights

• Co-authored with James F. Quigley: A History of the Christian Tradition: From Its Jewish Origins to the Reformation. New York: Paulist Press, 1988.
• Co-authored with James F. Quigley: A History of the Christian Tradition: From the Reformation to the Present. New York: Paulist Press, 1996.

Selected Scholarly Presentations and Activities

• Most recent public scholarly presentation:  "A New Athens or a New Jerusalem?  Savanarola and 15th Century Florence."  This presentation was a lecture to commemorate the Fifth Centenary of the Execution of Girolamo Savanarola, O.P. 1498-1998. It was presented for the Theology and Art History Faculty of Notre Dame University, November 16, 1998. 

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