Cardinal Newman Chair
Advance your goals in religion studies at APU, home of the only endowed chair of its kind in Alaska
The Cardinal Newman Chair of Catholic Theology was established in 1991 following a generous endowment by the Carr family with the intention of building bridges in the greater Anchorage area between religious traditions. It is the only endowed chair in religious studies in Alaska. This endowment funds continued scholarship and allows community members to observe and participate in Newman Chair classes for a reasonable fee.
The endowment also funds lectures and forums involving a wide variety of scholars from outside Alaska, including a yearlong 2007 project entitled “Engaging Muslims: Religion, Culture and Politics” put on by then-chair, Dr. Regina Boisclair. In the past, the chair has organized multi-day conferences on biblical subjects, and will continue to organize conferences engaging a range of theological topics. For information about upcoming presentations during the school year or to be added to the Newman Chair listserv, contact the current Newman Chair, Dr. Kevin Jones.
Dr. Jones is a systematic theologian focusing on grace and its implications in political life and is the current Newman Chair. This position has been a great place for him to think through these profound questions while broadening his studies to include and engage a variety of other traditions. Dr. Jones sees the mission of the Newman Chair as following in the footsteps of its namesake, John Henry Cardinal Newman, the 19th century Catholic theologian whose readiness to engage with the questions of the day remains an exemplar for us today.
As the Newman Chair and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, I look forward to thinking with you about the many profound questions investigated in the fields of theology and religious studies. Welcome to APU!
Dr. Kevin Jones, Newman Chair of Catholic Theology
