Mount Marty University to Host Sixth Annual Aquinas Lecture

Mount Marty University's sixth annual Aquinas Lecture will be held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish Hall in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Tuesday, March 11, at 7 p.m., with a reception to follow. 

This year's theme is 'The Search for Transcendent Education,' with keynote speaker Jennifer Frey, Ph.D., inaugural dean of the Honors College at The University of Tulsa. Frey received her bachelor's degree in philosophy and medieval studies with a minor in classics from Indiana University, Bloomington. She then earned her Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. Previously, before arriving at the University of Tulsa, Frey taught philosophy and humanities at the University of South Carolina and the University of Chicago, respectively. She currently teaches philosophy at the University of Tulsa along with her leadership duties. Frey's academic research journeys the topics of moral psychology and virtue, and she hosts a podcast titled "Sacred and Profane Love" that encompasses themes of philosophy, theology and literature.

Frey's presentation will discuss the Crisis of Western Education, which she believes is a "crisis of purpose." She will present a view of education that is Catholic but goes back to Plato, an ancient philosopher. She believes this is an educational foundation that must be recovered. She hopes attendees gain a "better appreciation of our heritage and a sense of urgency for its recovery."

"There is nothing more important or fundamental than education because it is the formation of a human person," said Frey. "An education is good if it prepares us to flourish as individuals and as a society, and it is bad if it doesn't."

"Education in America is at a crisis point," said Joe Rutten, director of the Benedictine Leadership Institute. "Students are struggling academically, socially and psychologically, politicians control the purse strings and curriculum requirements, students feel like they are simply jumping through hoops, teaching positions are going unfilled, and administrators are left to try and make some sense of what is going on and help our young people receive the life-giving nutrients that we have begun to expect from our schools. As a Catholic, Benedictine university of higher education, this is an important topic for everyone to reflect on, and we are excited to welcome Jennifer Frey to help us consider the challenges we face and a path forward that values the ancient models of education along with the modern."

Doors to the event open at 6:30 p.m. To register for the Aquinas Lecture, click here.