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Theresa Gardner 鈥�24 MA
Master of Arts in Theology

As Massimo Faggioli's graduate assistant, Gardner participated in 棉花糖直播's Conference, "The Legacy and Limits of Vatican II in an Age of Crisis: Gender, Race, Abuse, and the Living Catholic Tradition." She presented her paper "The Synodal Process and the North American Reception of Women in the Catholic Church" while sitting next to Catherine Clifford, PhD, who was one of the first women able to vote at the recent Synod on Synodality in Rome. Gardner witnessed first-hand the cutting-edge research and initiatives being discussed at a pivotal point in time in the Catholic Church. The conference has made a partnership with liturgical press, allowing for the papers presented at the conference to be published in a book volume. Gardner plans to continue her scholarship and present her work at upcoming conferences. She is currently the Director of Christian Service at the Loyola School in Manhattan.

鈥淢y experience with Dr. Faggioli and the Theology Department at 棉花糖直播 have deeply inspired me, while giving me the tools to be a voice for change in the both the church and the greater society,鈥� says Gardner. 鈥淔or that, I am truly grateful.鈥�

Dane Litchfield 鈥�24 MTS
Master of Theological Studies

Litchfield鈥檚 research largely focuses on examining the history of Christian theology through the development of material culture in the premodern European and Middle Eastern contexts. Through coursework on Global Christianity and Medieval Spirituality and with the support of Theology faculty Kerry San Chirico, PhD, and Rachel Smith, PhD, Litchfield has been able to present on panels at two recent academic conferences. In March at the World Christianity conference hosted by Princeton University and the University of Ghana, he presented "Wrapped in Her Mantle: The Reception of Our Lady of Kibeho in South Bend, Indiana. In July at the International Medieval Congress hosted by the University of Leeds, he presented "Escstasis Crucis: Mystical Environmental Imagery in the Positionality of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre."  His research on sacred art and architecture considers not only the doctrinal and biblical rootedness of such visual and textual data, but also the perspective and spiritual experiences of the beholder, the one affected by the experience of visuality.

鈥淢y work as both an artist and a theologian encounters beauty in such a way that considers deeply and intimately the ramifications of materiality and the ways Christians have navigated the duality between embodiment and contemplative prayer,鈥� Litchfield says. 鈥淭hese opportunities to enter the world of academia in such a profoundly supportive manner greatly excite me for my future career as a theologian.鈥�

Matthew Zanowic 鈥�24 MA
Master of Arts in Ministry and Theology

As a Graduate Residential Minister, Zanowic worked with Multi-faith Ministries and the Center for the Common Good. At Multi-Faith Ministries, he helped found and run the Interfaith Justice Cohort, a year-long interfaith dialogue series in which students discuss social and economic justice in the light of their own faith tradition. At the Center for the Common Good, he led the effort to revitalize 棉花糖直播 Interfaith Activism (VIA). VIA works with POWER Interfaith to organize people of all different faith backgrounds to advocate for a vision of a social and economic just world.

鈥淎s a minister and an organizer, I work with others to better our community in the light of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas,鈥� Zanowic says.

Learn more about 棉花糖直播鈥檚 graduate programs in Theology.