Division of Philosophy and Theology 2003-04

PHILOSOPHY

Mel Brandon

Publications:

• Editorial on Terri Schiavo in Mobile Register

• Book review on Heroic Leadership in Mobile Register  (requested)

Lectures/presentations/workshops given:

• Three presentations at University of South Alabama School of Medicine

• Department of Pediatrics: "Ethics of Intersexuality"

• Medical school freshman class: "Conflicts of Interest in the Practice of Medicine"

• Department of Pediatrics: "Conflicts of Interest in the Field of Pediatrics"

• Led discussion of the Terri Schiavo case among bioethicists at the HEAL Institute, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama

• Presentation in Fairhope discussion series at Margaret Davis' house

• SHC Faculty Friday: "Commonalities in Ethics and Leadership" 

Attended:

• Ethics Across the Curriculum Society national meeting, Austin, Texas

• Presented paper: "Commonalities in Ethics and Leadership" 

• Philosophy Department summer retreat

Member

• University of South Alabama College of Medicine's Ethics Committee

Set up/coordinated/arranged lectures:

• New college lecture series for health care community (with Mercy Medical, Providence Hospital, and University of South Alabama School of Medicine) titled "Religion, Ethics, and Health Care"

• Third "Ethics and Leadership" Lecture: Chris Lowney (with assistance from Father Lucey, Campus Ministry, Joyce Genz, and BellSouth)

Adjunct Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Director of Organizational Leadership Program which began in Spring 2003

Developed new course for the Organizational Leadership Program:  LDR 490 Senior Seminar

Works in progress:

• Revising PHL 290 Honors Ethics to explore issues of social justice and solidarity in greater depth

• Continuing to develop the interdisciplinary issues in PHL 398 Violence/Non-violence

• Continuing to develop MBA course BUS 530 Business Ethics in terms of connections between business and leadership in all areas, especially in relation to profit and non-profit enterprises

• Possible new course exploring Darwinism, brain science, and human freedom

• Continuing to strengthen the Organizational Leadership Program by finding additional quality instructors, mentoring future directors of the program, better integrating the 3 to 4 courses that are taught each term, and developing a marketing approach that will successfully sell a worthwhile program

Joanna Forstrom

Awarded:

• Teagle Summer Research Grant: "Descartes Against the Heretics"

• Traveled to Washington University Library in St. Louis and researched primary source texts, current journal articles, etc.; bought and read books in field; updated a portion of my dissertation and turned it into a conference paper that was presented at the Midsouth Philosophy Conference

• Selected to participate in NEH Summer 2004 Institute, "The Intersection of Philosophy, Science, and Theology in the Seventeenth Century"

Publications:

• Book review: Descartes and the Meditations, by Gary Hatfield, accepted by the journal Review of Metaphysics

• Book review: Descartes Concept of Mind, by Lilli Alanen, assigned by the Journal of the History of Philosophy

 Attended:

• Midsouth Philosophy Conference, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee

• Presented paper: "Descartes Against the Heretics: Focus on Immortality"  (refereed)

• Commented on Peter Lopston's paper "Naturalism Defined"

• American Philosophy Association, Eastern Division, meeting

• Deli Long Table (University of South Alabama and SHC philosophers' local organization)

• Philosophy Department summer retreat

Lectures/presentations/workshops given:

• SHC Opening Day poster presentation: "Descartes Against the Heretics"

Member:

• SHC's Howard Hughes Medical Institute Planning Committee

Faculty representative on Mission and Identity Committee, SHC Board of Trustees 

Better integrated technology into lectures in PHL 101 Logic

Strongly encouraged students in PHL 210 Ethics to do service through the Foley Center;  still working out how to evaluate and integrate service learning into the course

Taught PHL 350 Philosophy of Law in the wireless classroom; incorporated the Roy Moore Ten Commandments case as well as recent court rulings about capital punishment, homosexuality, and affirmative action in education

Works in progress:

• "Descartes Against the Heretics"

• "Locke and the Socinian Heresy"

• Updating PHL 343 History of Modern Philosophy to include more secondary literature

• Updating PHL 342 History of Medieval Philosophy to include a few medieval world activities and better incorporate secondary literature

Carl Kobelja

Attended:

• Midsouth Philosophy Conference, Memphis, Tennessee

• Response to a paper was read: "Comments to C.R. Hammon's 'Peter Achinstein's Critique of Carnap's Notion of "Observation Terms" ' "

Lectures/presentations/workshops given:

• SHC Faculty Friday: "If Students Were to Grade Your Knowledge, What Grade Would You Receive?"

Updated PHL 344 History of Contemporary Philosophy:  constructed new tests and implemented the comprehensive final

Encouraged student to present a paper, "The Rise and Fall of Empiricism: The Evolution of Meaning Throughout the 20th Century," at the Midsouth Philosophy Conference, Memphis, Tennessee

 Works in progress:

• Paper on the origins and meaning of analysis for presentation at either the Northwest Philosophy Conference, the Alabama Philosophical Society meeting or the Mid-South Philosophy Conference

• Developing new course on Wittgenstein

Mark Starr

Lectures/presentations/workshops given:

• Presentation on the history and identity of the Episcopal Church: St. Lawrence Parish, Fairhope, Alabama

Attended:

• Philosophy Department summer retreat:  we revised our curriculum, changed the method for assessing the work of our graduating seniors, created common "master syllabi" for those courses that are most commonly taken to fulfill the core curriculum, and reassessed our core curriculum offerings and the role of logic in the core

Updated PHL 290 Honor's Philosophy II: Philosophy of Human Nature

Faculty advisor for the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies

Vicar of St. Matthew's Parish 

Works in progress:

• Article on the 20th century analytic philosopher G. E. Moore and the Hellenistic skeptic Sextus Empiricus on the topic of certainty (result of sabbatical research)

• Continuing to stay up to date on literature in the field, especially regarding ancient Greek philosophy and contemporary epistemology

THEOLOGY

Tim Carmody

Publications:

• Completed final editing and proofing for my book, Reading the Bible: A Study Guide; book is at the printers and is scheduled to be available July 1, 2004 

Lectures/presentations/workshops given:

• Two lectures on Bonaventure:  St. Ann Parish, Gulf Breeze, Florida

• Lecture on Resurrection:  St. Ann Parish, Gulf Breeze, Florida

• Three lectures on Old Testament Prophecies and Infancy Narratives:  St. Lawrence Parish, Fairhope, Alabama

• Lecture on Gospel of John:  St. Mark's Parish, Birmingham, Alabama

• Two lectures on Gospel of John:  Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Birmingham, Alabama

• Lecture on Passion Narratives:  St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Mobile, Alabama

Attended:

• Catholic Biblical Association meeting

• Co-chair of the Task Force on "Mark in the New Millennium"

• Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry meeting

Met with Eleanor Kulin, Marketing Director of the Exploreum of Mobile, to discuss a lecture series for the upcoming Dead Sea Scrolls visit

Moderator for the graduate theology Coffee House discussion group

Helped the Director of Religious Education at St. Ann Parish, Gulf Breeze, Florida, organize two lecture series and arranged for SHC professors (Dr. Emmanuel Cutrone, Dr. George Gunti, Mr. John Switzer, and Dr. Lynn Bridgers) to lecture there

Used ERes in sophomore honors classes: posted articles, comments, and paper I had written 

Taught freshman classes in smart classrooms and used computer more than in the past

Have been contacted about being part of a study from Notre Dame on creative teaching of introductory theology; if selected, I will work on my best teaching practices, administer a questionnaire at the beginning of the course, have several written reflections from students during the class, submit course materials, reflect in a journal on the class, and be interviewed by phone

Works in progress:

• Have been approached by Lawrence Boadt, publisher of Paulist Press, about contributing a book on the Gospel of Mark to a series on the Bible (not firm yet)

• Thorough study of teaching practices in THL 101, focusing on information literacy and technology implementation

• Also focusing on information literacy and technology implementation in THL 332 Gospel and Letters of John

• Initiating a forum of graduates and current students to look at issues of ministry formation

George Gilmore

Attended:

• Most SHC Faculty Friday presentations

Lectures/presentations/workshops given:

• Two adult education talks: Holy Spring Parish, Atlanta, Georgia

• With Dr. Michael Johnson, represented SHC and the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation at an economic development seminar in Prichard, Alabama

• SHC Faculty Friday: "The Fairhope Single Tax Corporation"

Member:

• St. Lawrence Parish Adult Education Committee

• Marietta Johnson Museum of Organic Education, Fairhope, Alabama:  President, Board of Directors

• Fairhope Single Tax Corporation:  President (through February 2004)

Organized ecumenical evenings for the St. Lawrence Parish (Fairhope, Alabama) Adult Education program;  included representatives from Unity/Eastern Shore, Dr. Mark Starr on Anglican/Episcopal, Rev. Marlene Patterson on The Church (takes frequent trips to eastern Europe and experienced Austria under Hitler), and Dr. Nader Entessar on Zoroastrianism

Continued preparation of THL 589 Philosophy for Theology: read and outlined texts

Outlined new book for THL 549 Major Theologian: Teilhard

Director of General Studies Program for the traditional undergraduate and Lifelong Learning programs

Works in progress:

• Working on draft/text for THL 344 Christology

• Substantial ongoing reading for THL 589 Philosophy for Theology: bought and am reading the Christian Spirituality series (107 volumes) from Paulist

• Reading support material to see if THL 343 Sacraments could be developed into a graduate course

Frederick Gunti

Publications:

• Book review for the in-house theology newsletter

• Movie review for the in-house theology newsletter

Continued to work on drawing students into the activity of processing ideas together as a class

Consulted with Dr. Michael Johnson regarding student evaluations of my classes; as a result, took steps to redesign my quizzes and to elevate my expectations about student performance

Celebrate Mass at Visitation Convent and McAuley Place (twice a week at each)

John Switzer

Awarded:

• Lifelong Learning Program's "Adjunct of the Year" Award

• Boston College travel grant (to travel to Boston College for comprehensive exam)

Attended:

• Videoconference: "St. Ignatius in Cyberspace"

Member:

• College Theological Society

• Society for Pastoral Theology

• Association of Professors and Researchers of Religious Education

Successfully defended dissertation proposal

Adjunct instructor on World Religions for the University of Southern Mississippi, Long Beach, Mississippi

Organized informal theological discussion events with freshmen

Assisted in planning the theology department brochure "Why Major in Theology?"

Serve as volunteer board president for the Interfaith Hospitality Network (agency serving homeless children in Biloxi, Mississippi)

Works in progress:

• Dissertation: "Hospitality to the Stranger as a Paradigm for Religious Education in the Postmodern Context of Immediate Religious Plurality"

Chris Viscardi, S.J. [Division Chair]

Awarded Caestecker Chair in Liberal Arts

Publications:

• Book review for The Way Supplement (July 2004 issue) of Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden

• Book review for Theological Studies (October 2004 issue) of Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden

• Essay contributions to Off Campus (graduate theology annual newsletter)

 Attended:

• American Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) Mission and Identity annual meeting, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington

• American Academy of Religion (AAR) annual meeting and American Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) conference of theology department chairs, Atlanta, Georgia

Lectures/presentations given:

• The Aquinas Center Spirituality Lecture, affiliated with Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

• Talk for Eucharistic Liturgy Conference, Spring Hill College (organized by Campus Ministry)

• Lecture: Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, Georgia

• Parish lecture presentation: St. Paul Cathedral, Birmingham, Alabama

• Parish lecture presentation: Our Lady of Sorrows, Birmingham, Alabama

• Frequent media interviews with Kristen Campbell, religion editor of Mobile Register

• Presentation on SHC Jesuit mission and identity for SHC Board of Trustees Retreat

• Feature lecture for Spring Hill Day (graduate theology homecoming day)

• Talk for Spring Hill Scholars annual dinner

• SHC Table Talk on the Very Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.

Member:

• SHC Board of Trustees:  chair Mission and Identity Committee and serve on Academic Affairs and Educational Policy Committee

• Subcommission on Higher Education for New Orleans Jesuit Province

Chair of Christus Theological Institute and Christus/Quest lecture program

Coordinator of  annual Summer Catholic Youth Conference

Works in progress:

• Continuing work on book on the history of Spring Hill College as a case study of Jesuit-Catholic mission in higher education over the last 175 years: have completed a rough draft of four chapters

• Experimenting with new books for THL 564 American Religious History

Stephen Wilson

Publications:

• Article: "Christ and Cult(ure): Some Preliminary Reflections on Liturgy and Life" published in Liturgical Ministry, 12 (2003) 177-87

• Wrote a reflection, "Christ, the World's Light: Shining on Past the Vigil" for the "Fields of Faith" section of The Catholic Week (Mobile, Alabama, archdiocesan newspaper)

Attended:

• North American Academy of Liturgy meeting, New York, New York

• Presented paper to the "Eucharistic Prayer and Theology" seminar on the relationship of worship and Christian Life 

• Accepted as an official member, based on the Academy's evaluation of my current and future contributions to liturgical scholarship

• New Wine, New Wineskins Symposium for young Catholic moral theologians, South Bend, Indiana

• Attended sessions devoted to the pedagogy of teaching ethics to undergraduates

• Participated in a working group on the virtues

Lectures/presentations given:

• Christus lecture on the relation of liturgy and culture

• Talk on the relationship of worship, doctrine, and Christian life: St. Paul's Parish, Jackson, Mississippi

• Guest lecture on the social thought of John Calvin:  Dr. Alex Landi's LIS 503 Modernity course 

• Led Justice Roundtable discussion during SHC Fall Opening Week

• Gave talk on the importance of service during SHC spring semester opening worship service 

• Gave talk and fielded questions on why Christians worship for SHC Campus Ministry's Liturgy Conference 

• Gave talk on challenges of Christian living to Faith Group (SHC Campus Ministry discussion program for seniors)

Member

• North American Academy of Liturgy

Coordinated the Catholic Youth Seminar during Father Chris Viscardi's sabbatical

Completely revised THL 221 Ritual and Worship to take a more historical and ecumenically sensitive approach: examined liturgical developments in the early church, then noted medieval liturgical developments, and finally looked at worship since the Reformation in various Western Churches, specifically Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Methodist, and Frontier (e.g., Baptist) traditions; used more multimedia than in any other course, including PowerPoint for presenting material on the visual arts (church architecture, vestments, and iconography) and video for showing worship services

Improved THL 101 Western Religious Heritage by revising lecture on St. Francis of Assisi to better emphasize how the Franciscan Order as friars rather than cloistered monks presented a new model of religious life that engaged the world, especially marginalized people like lepers

Works in progress:

• Paper on the relationship of liturgy and virtue for presentation at the New Wine, New Wineskins Symposium