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university of Mary appoints Matthew Gerlach Coordinator of new Catholic Studies program
by Tom Ackerman, University of Mary Posted on 7/28/2010 Bismarck, ND-When the University of Mary, America's Leadership University, set out to find a coordinator for its new Catholic studies program, it was seeking a teacher, scholar and communicator. Beyond that, the ideal candidate would be enthusiastic, committed to a high degree of interaction among faculty and with students, and have a deep respect for Catholicism and education in the Benedictine tradition. Matthew Gerlach fills the bill and then some. This fall, he will bring his knowledge, skills and passion for learning and teaching to bear in helping to launch a Catholic studies program at U-Mary. Gerlach has an extensive background and avid interest in Catholic culture and the humanities, and has found his calling as an educator. A Twin Cities, MN, native, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Catholic studies and philosophy, as well as a Master of Arts in theology from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. He is in the process of completing a Doctor of Philosophy in religious studies from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. Gerlach also studied at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH, and at the Loyola University Chicago John Felice Rome Center and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, in Rome, Italy. He most recently served as adjunct professor of Catholic studies at the University of St. Thomas, where he was previously a visiting professor. (See accompanying biography.) As coordinator for the U-Mary Catholic Studies program, Gerlach will teach Catholic studies, philosophy, and theology courses, while initiating conversations with administration, faculty, and students about the Catholic intellectual tradition and ways to collaborate and integrate the Catholic faith into the curriculum. "One of the essential initiatives of a successful Catholic studies program is to invite and encourage collaboration among faculty and students in different fields of knowledge," says Gerlach. "I look forward to helping facilitate the creation of a program at U-Mary that is Catholic in depth and interdisciplinary in breadth, one that will incorporate best practices from Catholic studies programs elsewhere and will draw heavily from the riches of the Benedictine tradition. Catholic studies is more than just an academic program; it is meant to foster community, service, and spirituality, values that already clearly distinguish the University of Mary and the education it provides." "We are pleased to welcome Matthew Gerlach to the University of Mary and are excited about the knowledge, experience, and energy he has to share," says Father James Shea, president. "We are confident in his commitment to creating a program that is both outstanding in its quality and authentic to the university's roots in service to the people of the prairie." In offering a Catholic studies program, the University of Mary will become one of fewer than 50 colleges and universities across the United States and the only institution of higher learning in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming to do so. "We look forward to working with Matthew Gerlach in the ongoing development of this innovative initiative," says Dr. Diane Fladeland, vice president of Academic Affairs. "It is an exciting opportunity for enhancing the university's Catholic identity and deepening the knowledge of Catholicism's rich and living heritage among students of all faiths, and across all disciplines." The official site of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota
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