Center for Dominican Studies Holds First Advisory Board Meeting

October 10, 2004

COLUMBUS, OH - On October 8, 2004 Ohio Dominican University's Center for Dominican Studies held its historic first advisory board meeting. The Center, which opened this summer, is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the 93-year-old Catholic University's Dominican heritage and character.

Funded in part through a legacy gift from the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, ODU's Center for Dominican Studies provides a variety of programming on Dominican values and history, lectures and symposia, research, published material, and special events. In addition, the Center fosters collaboration with and between various areas of the University, the Congregation of St. Mary of the Springs and the Diocese of Columbus, as well as other Dominican colleges, universities, centers and agencies throughout the country and the world.

The role of the Advisory Board is to provide periodic review of the Center's mission and purpose; to assist in ongoing long-range and strategic planning; to provide guidance and direction regarding Center programs, activities, initiatives and services; to assist in the assessment of programs and activities, and to help develop and secure resources for the Center.

At the meeting, the Board listened to presentations entitled "The Value of a Center in Promoting the Dominican Mission" and "How a Center Changes the Culture of a College/University" by board members Sr. Ruth Caspar, O.P., Professor Emerita of Philosophy, ODU, and Sr. Catherine Colby, O.P., Ed.D. Director of the Center for Dominican Studies. Dr. Joseph Kelley, Vice President of Merrimack College and Director for the Center for Augustinian Studies, was the keynote speaker and facilitator. The meeting concluded with a roundtable discussion about the ethical and moral issues that will influence the common good and the action steps that might be taken by the Board to address issues of importance to the church, culture and society.

Members of the Advisory Board include: Bishop James A. Griffin, Diocese of Columbus; Rabbi Harold Berman, Temple Tifereth Israel, Columbus, OH; Dr. Ronald Carstens, Professor of Political Science, ODU, Sr. Ruth Caspar, O.P., Professor Emerita of Philosophy, ODU, Michael Curtin, President and Associate Publisher, The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, OH; Dr. Patricia Daly, Professor of Education, ODU, Sr. Juliana D'Amato, O.P., Professor Emerita of Italian and Art History, Albertus Magnus College and Pastoral Ministry, St. Margaret Cortona Parish, Columbus, OH; Fr. Donald Goergen, O.P., Dominican Ashram, Kenosha, WI; Sr. Mary Jo Fox, O.P., Congregation of St. Mary of the Springs, Columbus, OH; Dr. Joseph Kelley, Vice President, Center for Augustinian Studies, Merrimack College North Andover, MA; Sr. Anne Kilbride, O.P., Prioress, Congregation of St. Mary of the Springs, Columbus, OH; Sr. Gilmary McCabe, O.P., Freshmen Advising and Campus Ministry, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT; Donald McConnell, Chairman, Ohio Dominican University Board of Trustees and Corporate Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Laboratory Operations for Battelle, Columbus, OH; Dr. Julia McNamara, President, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT; Sr. Joan Scanlon, O.P., Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine, Kentucky and Executive Director of the Dominican Alliance, Dominican Sisters USA; John Christopher Scott, Director, Forum for Faith in the Workplace, Columbus, OH; Fr. Ken Sicard, O.P., Dean of Residence Life, Providence College and Provincial Treasurer of the Dominican Fathers, Providence, RI; Dr. Mary Todd, Vice President for Academic Affairs, ODU, Rev. Leon Troy, Chairman, House of Troy Foundation, Columbus, OH; Dr. Jack P. Calareso, President, ODU (ex officio); and Sr. Catherine Colby, O.P., Ed.D., Director, Center for Dominican Studies, ODU (ex officio).