This year, the students of Fairfield University's chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society, tried something different when soliciting the student body for Teacher of the Year candidates. Instead of using paper ballots, students submitted names through the computerized StagWeb system. The response was far greater than ever, with ASN receiving approximately 150 submissions. Great news, but it made the selection process extremely difficult.

"There were nine of us on the committee. We narrowed the list down to those who had the highest number of votes, then looked at what each person said about them," said Carolyn S. Stankiewicz '05, this year's student chair.

The name Dr. Paul Lakeland, Fairfield University's Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Professor of Catholic Studies, came up in suggestions from freshmen to seniors, across majors and different schools. He was clearly the favorite.

There's no doubt about it: Students love his classes. "I am a religious studies minor because of his influence, and I've taken three of his classes," Stankiewicz said. "We've had speakers come in from different Catholic factions, such as Opus Dei and Voice of the Faithful. And he'll challenge us by asking things like 'is that a Dan Brown (Da Vinci Code) statement or a real fact?'"

Katherine Petta '05 was also on the selection committee, and said Dr. Lakeland's name came up time and again. "He's a very busy man and does lots of lectures around the country," she said. "He's highly respected in his field, but it's clear to his students that they are his priority. He's always available, and that's impressive."

In the 24 years he has been at Fairfield University, Dr. Lakeland has seen change. "There are more buildings, of course, and the student body has increased in both size and quality," he said. In terms of religion, he believes students are both more open to difference than they used to be, although less anchored in the Catholic tradition.

"That's one of the reasons my chair came into existence," he said, speaking of the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Chair in Catholic Studies, which he currently holds.

"'Catholic Studies is one strategy for maintaining an awareness of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions in an era when there are fewer Jesuits at the school, and when the spirituality of the Catholic majority of students has become less tied to the Church," he said. "Students are just as serious about the deep-seated issues of suffering, death, and the meaning of life, but they measure their spiritual commitments in different ways than they once did. Keeping the students aware of the intellectual and spiritual riches of Catholicism is a major part of this position."

He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, where he currently chairs the Theology and Religious Reflection Section, and the Catholic Theological Society of America. He is an editor for "Religious Studies Review," a member of the editorial board of "Cross Currents," co-editor of the Fortress Press series, "Guides to Theological Inquiry," and co-convener of the independent ecumenical association of systematic and constructive theologians, The Workgroup for Constructive Theology.

Dr. Lakeland received his Ph.D. in religion from Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tenn., a Licentiate in philosophy from Heythrop Pontifical Athenaeum, a Master of Arts degree from Oxford University in English language and literature, and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from the University of London.

This semester, Dr. Lakeland taught Theology of the Laity, a course which mirrors many of the points put forth in his most recent book, "The Liberation of the Laity." In it, he addresses the issue of lay involvement and responsibility within the Church.

"His message to us is that we are the lifeblood of the Church, and that there's something to be learned from history when the laity in general had a more active, official role in Church decision-making," Petta said.

"I'm honored and humbled to receive this award," says Dr. Lakeland. "I know it doesn't mean I'm the best professor, but that my turn came up. Nevertheless, it's very encouraging and I greatly appreciate it."

Alpha Sigma Nu will present the Award at a brunch ceremony during Senior Week. In addition, Dr. Lakeland will be the guest speaker at next year's Alpha Sigma Nu induction in October.

Posted On: 05-16-2005 10:05 AM

Volume: 37 Number: 264