The Aquinas Educational Foundation was established in 1967 as a non-profit foundation governed by a board of directors. The mission of the Aquinas Educational Foundation is twofold:
1) to support the theology courses, which provide Purdue students and others in the Purdue community and the Diocese of Lafayette with a chance to develop an intellectual and historical understanding of their faith as a complement to their secular education and
2) to promote other educational programs for the Diocese of Lafayette and members of the Purdue community that provide opportunities for Catholics to be informed about the Catholic Church’s views concerning current issues, theology and values; further religious studies and interfaith relations in the Greater Lafayette area.
The Aquinas Educational Foundation educational programs include public lectures that bring together faculty, staff, graduate students and community members near Purdue University.
Our past speakers have included Cardinal George, George Weigel, Jean Bethke Elshtain, Diana Hayes, Cyprian Davis, John Allen, Fr. Ron Rohlheiser, Victoria Saker Woeste, and Margaret Steinfels. We have also co-sponsored lectures by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Fr. Patrick Collins, Professor Robert Orsi, Fr. Tom Norris, Professor Don Mitchell, Professor Ann Astell, Brendan Purcell, Carolyn Woo, Bishop Timothy Doherty, Ruby Behringer, and Bishop Edward Braxton.
In Spring 2015, we hosted a panel on ISIS and the Islamic State in Purdue Memorial Union’s East Ballroom. Over 400 students, faculty, and community members came to hear the panelists representing Catholic and Islamic perspectives: Scott Alexander, Rafia Zakaria, and Ahmed Rehab.
We have also hosted Hosffman Ospino, Associate Professor of Hispanic Ministry and Religious Education at Boston College, who lectured on “Practicing Justice, Building Communion: American Catholicism’s Moral Imperative to Embrace Its Hispanic/Latino Identity.”
Most recently, we have hosted our Virtual 2021 Spring Lecture Series with lectures from Dr./Sr. Ann Astell, Dr. Tania Checchi, Dr. Martha Reineke, and Fr./Dr. Thomas McDermott. You may watch the videos for those lectures here.
