Round Table of Scholars

James F. Will Endowed Chair of Engineering

Named in honor of Saint Vincent College President Emeritus James F. Will, C’60, who served from 2000–06 as the College’s 15th president, the James F. Will Endowed Chair of Engineering was established to advance the mission of Saint Vincent College by evolving the engineering program from a two- and three-year track to a four-year degree, securing accreditation, promoting its impact through research and measurable outcomes and creating partnerships with area industry.

Derek Breid, Ph.D., earned his doctorate in polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts. He joined the Saint Vincent College faculty in 2014, the same year that the College introduced its four-year engineering degree. Currently, Dr. Breid serves as chair for the Engineering Department and teaches thermal science and design-related courses, in addition to running the Engineering Capstone Design program.

Alex G. McKenna Endowed Chair in Economics

Established through the support of the Philip M. McKenna Foundation, the Alex G. McKenna Chair promotes the enhancement of economic literacy, building on an appreciation for and understanding of the development, protection, and history of the American enterprise system.

Zachary Davis, Ph.D., joined Saint Vincent College in 2016 and holds a doctorate in economics from Purdue University. His current research focuses on the labor market recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, labor supply elasticities, and the housing market in Pennsylvania. Dr. Davis also works as a consultant to police and probation associations in contract disputes. He completed his undergraduate studies at Miami University in his hometown of Oxford, Ohio.

Endowed Director of the Saint Vincent Center for Catholic Thought and Culture

The Saint Vincent College Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, established in 2019, serves as an interdisciplinary academic institute dedicated to advancing the mission of Saint Vincent College. It fosters scholarship across various fields, including theology, philosophy, marriage and family, politics, economics, rhetoric, fine arts, and science. In October 2020, the Center was honored as an Oasis of Excellence by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

Jerome C. Foss, Ph.D., has been a member of the Department of Political Science in Saint Vincent College’s Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government since 2011. He serves as the inaugural director of the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture as well as the executive secretary for the Society of Catholic Social Scientists. Currently, he also serves the college as director of the SVC Core Curriculum and SVC Honors. In addition to his administrative and teaching roles, he has published multiple books, articles, and reviews.

James and Margaret Tseng Loe Endowed Chair in China Studies

The James and Margaret Tseng Loe China Studies Center promotes cross-cultural understanding between China and the United States through cultural exchange and education. Inspired by the Loe family’s integration of American ideals of freedom, equality, and democracy and the Chinese cardinal moral principles of propriety, filial piety, integrity, and self-respect, the Center aims to cultivate the idea that there is more that unites us than divides us.

Sophia Geng, Ph.D., earned her master’s degree from Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, China, and her doctorate from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She served as chair of the board of directors of ASIANetwork, a consortium of about 150 North American colleges and universities, which promotes education about Asia within the liberal arts tradition. Before joining the Saint Vincent faculty in 2023, she taught China studies and served as the director of the Asian Studies Program at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Minnesota.

The Rabbi Jason Z. Edelstein Endowed Chair in Catholic-Jewish Dialogue

Named in honor of Rabbi Jason Edelstein, a longtime faculty member in the Saint Vincent College Department of Theology, the Rabbi Jason Edelstein Endowed Chair in Catholic Jewish Dialogue was established to advance a mission of Saint Vincent College as expressed in the Declaration of the Second Vatican Council Nostra Aetate, “Since Christians and Jews have such a common spiritual heritage, this Second Council wishes to encourage and further mutual understanding and appreciation.”

Rabbi Jamie Gibson, M.H.L., served as the rabbi at Temple Sinai in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh for 32 years, building interfaith and interracial ties throughout the religious communities of the Pittsburgh region. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Rabbi Gibson earned a master’s degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, as well as rabbinic ordination. He brings more than 40 years of interfaith experience to courses on Catholic-Jewish dialogue and arranges special programs for the SVC community such as guest speakers and field trips.

Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., Endowed Chair in Economics

The Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., Endowed Chair in Economics and Business is named in honor of the 17th president of Saint Vincent College who also served as executive vice president and dean of the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing. The mission of the Br. Norman W. Hipps Endowed Chair is to foster research that focuses on the regional economy and includes collaboration with Saint Vincent students.

Andrew Herr, Ph.D., has served on the faculty of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government for more than 25 years, teaching introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in macroeconomics, environmental economics, and game theory. Herr has referred publications in multiple scholarly journals and has delivered numerous lectures and participated in several seminars at national conferences and universities across the U.S.

Mary S. Carey Endowed Chair in Ethics and Catholic Social Thought

In conjunction with the creation of Saint Vincent College’s Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Mary S. Carey Endowed Chair in Ethics and Catholic Social Thought was established to further explore the intersection of science and technology with the liberal arts and business by focusing on the role of ethics in a world where technology is accorded increasing importance.

Matthias P. Hühn’s research focuses on the philosophical foundations of the social sphere. It is addresses questions such as what differentiates reason from rationality, and what distinguishes the common good from the collective good. Hühn explores the implications of practitioners and academics using one or the other concept. Before joining Saint Vincent College in 2019, among other positions, he was a tenured professor at the University of Navarra and the American University of Paris, and held chairs at the German University in Cairo, and the British University in Egypt. He continues to teach courses in strategy, leadership, and ethics.

Philip M. McKenna Endowed Chair in American and Western Political Thought

The Philip M. McKenna Endowed Chair in American and Western Political Thought, supported by the Philip M. McKenna Foundation, is dedicated to promoting an understanding of Western political thought and the tradition of the American Founding and civic institutions.

Jason Jividen, Ph.D., has been with Saint Vincent since 2010. He was appointed chair of the Political Science Department in 2021 and teaches courses in American political thought and institutions, constitutional law, and the history of political philosophy.

Boniface Wimmer Endowed Chair in Monastic Studies

The Boniface Wimmer Endowed Chair in Monastic Studies is named in honor of Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., the founder of Saint Vincent College and Monastery who established nine additional Benedictine Abbeys and more than 150 Catholic parishes across the country. The Boniface Wimmer Endowed Chair in Monastic Studies fosters research and dialogue on monastic traditions and their impact across various fields of study.

Catherine Petrany, Ph.D., holds a master’s degree in systematic theology and a doctorate in Old Testament from Fordham University. She is the author of Pedagogy, Prayer and Praise: The Wisdom of the Psalms and Psalter, and her scholarly essays have appeared in journals such as Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Biblical Theology Bulletin, and the Journal of Theological Interpretation. Her work focuses on the poetry of the Old Testament, particularly the Book of Psalms and Wisdom literature. Questions about the liturgical use and function of the Psalms, particularly within the Benedictine monastic tradition, also guide her study.

Irene S. Taylor Endowed Chair for Catholic and Family Studies

Named in honor of the late Mrs. Irene S. Taylor, mother of Saint Vincent College president Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., a devout Catholic, an accomplished and respected nurse, and a loving mother, the Irene S. Taylor Endowed Chair for Catholic and Family Studies was established to support and advance Catholic values to strengthen families in response to the challenges of contemporary society.

Mary Beth Yount, Ph.D., joined Saint Vincent’s faculty is 2024 and holds a doctorate in Catholic systematic theology from Duquesne University, with specialization in ethics and practical theology. During her time as professor of theological studies at Neumann University, Dr. Yount served as director of content and programming for the 2015 World Meeting of Families. A consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Dr. Yount serves as a delegate at relevant Vatican events.

Vacant

David M. Roderick Endowed Director of Libraries

Throughout history, library collections attached to Benedictine monasteries played a key role in the preservation and dissemination of knowledge and wisdom. Named in honor of the late U.S. Steel executive and philanthropist, the David M. Roderick Endowed Director position assures the continuation of this tradition even as the means of sharing knowledge change with emerging technology.

Vacant

Rita McGinley Endowed Chair in Early Learning and Children’s Media

The Rita McGinley Endowed Chair in Early Learning and Children’s Media is named in honor of the late Rita M. McGinley, philanthropist, children’s educator and longtime friend of Saint Vincent College. The Rita McGinley Endowed Chair in Early Learning, an integral part of the Fred Rogers Institute, contributes to teaching, research, and outreach for the Fred Rogers Institute through the pursuit of a major research project, public lectures, teaching at the College, and publication of academic work.