George Dennis O'Brien, Ph.D., a prominent leader in higher education and author of "Finding the Voice of the Church," (University of Notre Dame, 2007) will deliver the inaugural Commonweal Lecture at Fairfield University on Wednesday, April 2 at 8 p.m. in the Dolan School of Business Dining Room. He will speak on "Two Cheers for a Democratic Church." The public is welcome and admission is free.

The annual lecture will feature speakers associated with "Commonweal," a journal of opinion edited and managed by lay Catholics that reviews religion, politics, and culture. It is sponsored by the Center for Catholic Studies in partnership with "Commonweal."

A former president of Bucknell University and the University of Rochester, Dr. O'Brien was appointed vice president for the Commonweal Foundation in 1994, where he now serves as chair of the board.

Dr. O'Brien earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1961 and taught philosophy at Princeton University and Middlebury College while taking on additional administrative responsibilities at both. He was president of Bucknell University from 1976 until 1984 and then appointed the eighth president of the University of Rochester where he served until his retirement in 1994.

His other books include "The Idea of a Catholic University" (University of Chicago Press, 2002); "All the Essential Half-Truths about Higher Education" (University of Chicago Press, 1997); and "What to Expect from College" (St. Martin's Press, 1991). He is the author of many articles in both professional and popular publications on wide-ranging aspects of philosophy, religion and modern art.

Posted On: 03-12-2008 10:03 AM

Volume: 40 Number: 199