Looking to the Future with Villanova's Strategic Plan

“One of the things that make Villanova unique”
Alumnus Michael Lamb, M.D., ’75 A&S
has been profoundly affected by
Villanova’s Augustinian heritage. “There is
a theme underlying the Villanova education,
and that theme is Augustine. It is one
of the things that make Villanova unique.”
As a physician, Dr. Lamb has a special
interest in relating modern science to the
philosophy of Augustine. In 2001, he
wrote then-Villanova president the Rev.
Edmund J. Dobbin, O.S.A., Ph.D., ‘58 A&S,
proposing a lecture series on the topic.
“Many of Augustine’s ideas were also
influential in the sciences,” he notes. “The
seeds of Einstein’s relativity theory are
present many centuries earlier in Augustine’s
writings.”
Father Dobbin was “immediately
receptive,” Dr. Lamb recalls. “I got not
only a response but also encouragement
to push the plan forward.”
Thus was born the Augustinian Institute’s
Vivian J. Lamb Lecture Series on
Augustinian Thought and the Sciences.
Endowed by Dr. Lamb and named after
his mother, it has brought many distinguished
scientists to campus.
“The philosophical approaches in science
and religion share much in common,”
he says. “I’m glad the series has
continued to flourish. It could not have
succeeded without the attention and
nurturing of Father Thomas Martin.”
New director the Rev. Allan
Fitzgerald, O.S.A., brings an
international network of Augustinian
scholars to the Institute.
to carry on and enhance the good things
that Tom Martin accomplished.”
The Institute’s new director looks forward
to collaborating with the various
academic departments and organizations
that also sponsor Augustine-related lectures
and events each semester on campus.
“What we do and the speakers we invite
will have a direct impact on the students.”
In addition to making Augustine an
integral part of the everyday lives of
Villanovans, Father Fitzgerald’s goal is
to make the Institute “the place to study
Augustine,” where people will come
to reflect together on Augustine through
the ages. It is a vision supported by
Villanova’s president, the Rev. Peter M.
Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D., ’75 A&S, who
wants to see the Institute grow in international
stature.
Father Fitzgerald’s international experience
and network of Augustinian scholars
will play a major role in the latter. In addition
to working and teaching in Rome, he
received his S.T.L. degree from Lateran
University in Rome and his S.T.D. degree
from Institut Catholique in Paris. He is
conversant in French, German, Spanish,
Italian and English.
Fellowships for
international scholars
In pursuit of increased international visibility,
the next five years will be a period
of major growth for the Institute, according
to Barbara Wall, Ph.D., vice president
for Mission and Ministry at Villanova.
“Our Augustinian tradition has framed
us as a University, and we need to put that
front and center,” she says. “The Institute
is part of Villanova’s attempt to claim our
tradition, our distinctiveness and the
charism we offer to higher education.”
To facilitate the growth of scholarship
in Augustinian studies, the Institute
will provide fellowships to Augustinian
scholars from around the world. The
St. Augustine Fellows, a new initiative
designed to broaden the Augustinian
conversation at Villanova and beyond,
invites scholars to come to Villanova
for a semester.
It is envisioned that each St. Augustine
Fellow will teach an Augustine-related
course, present a seminar session on his or
her research project while at Villanova and
participate in sponsored lectures and conversations.
The opportunity gives the
scholars time not only to do their own
research but to be involved in a discussion
on Augustine that is more intense and collaborative
than in their home institutions.
Their presence on campus will offer
Villanova undergraduates even more
opportunity to learn about Augustine and
his impact on modern life.
“The important thing is that the
Augustinian tradition is a living tradition,”
says Dr. Wall. “It’s not so much about the
past as it is about how Augustinian thinking
can enable us to be in dialogue with
our contemporary culture in ways that are
relevant today.”
With its rich Augustinian heritage,
Villanova seeks to play an even more
important role in allowing the voice of
Augustine to continue to speak effectively
to today’s world.
“The ultimate goal,” says Father
Donohue, “is to make Augustine
live today.”
Institute Sponsors
International Web Site
on Augustine
V
illanova’s Augustinian Institute is a
sponsor of www.FindingAugustine
.org, an online bibliographical collection
concerning Augustine of Hippo and his
legacy. The comprehensive, user-friendly
site is the result of a unique international
collaboration between institutions of
higher learning in Europe and America.
Some of the world’s leading scholarly
books and articles about Augustine
are organized according to a set of
categories searchable by topic or idea,
making it easy to research almost
anything about Augustine. The Web
site is available in six languages: English,
French, German, Italian, Spanish
and Dutch.
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