Office for Mission Offers two Spring Semester Reading Groups

St. Thomas faculty, staff and students are encouraged to join the two spring semester reading groups sponsored by the Office for Mission.

omnivoreEnvironmental stewardship, specifically what we eat, is the subject of one group’s reading. The text they have chosen is Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Pollan advocates examining the systems underlying our food and states, “We vote with our fork [what is in our food, where it comes from, and how it gets to us] three times a day.”

Professor Elise Amel, Psychology, will moderate the environmental stewardship and sustainability group. Environmental stewardship is included in the university’s mission and strategic priorities.

university_ideaThe Catholic higher education reading group has chosen Cardinal John Henry Newman’s The Idea of a University. Published in the mid-19th century, the book is a volume of lectures presented by Newman that contains some of his most effective and influential writings.

Professor Steve Laumakis, Philosophy, will moderate the Catholic higher education reading group.

The books will be distributed to group members near the beginning of spring semester. The reading groups will meet three times.

To join, e-mail Amel or Laumakis.