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University Professor of Faith and Culture

The University Professor of Faith and Culture works directly with the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and other academic and faculty leaders to deepen the academic and intellectual discourse on campus concerning Catholic culture and intellectual traditions as major resources for learning and scholarship.

Marianist Award

The University of Dayton presents the Marianist Award each year to a Roman Catholic who has made notable scholarly contributions to enriching Catholic intellectual tradition. The award derives its name from the title given to members of the religious orders founded by Blessed Fr. William Joseph Chaminade and Venerable Mother Adéle de Batz de Trenquelleon.

Established in 1950, the Marianist Award was originally presented to scholars who had made outstanding contributions to Mariology in America. In 1967, the concept for the award was broadened to honor individuals who had made outstanding contributions to humanity.

The Marianist Award was revived in 1986 when the University of Dayton announced that it would again present the award annually, this time to honor a Roman Catholic whose work has made a major contribution to the intellectual life. The award includes and original piece of Marian-themed art and a stipend of $5,000.

2025 Winner: Fr. James L. Heft, S.M.

James Heft (Marianist) is a priest in the Society of Mary and leader for more than 30 years in Catholic higher education. Heft spent many years at the University of Dayton, serving as chair of the Religious Studies Department for six years, Provost of the University for eight years and Chancellor for 10 years. He left UD in 2006 to found the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he served as the Alton Brooks Professor of Religion and the Founder and President Emeritus of the Institute until returning to UD in the summer of 2023. During his time as president, the Institute published 20 books.

Past Marianist Award winners
  • 2024: Dr. Thomas Landy, Ph.D.
  • 2023: Bro. Mickey McGrath, OSFS
  • 2020: Cathleen Kaveny
  • 2019: Bro. Guy Consolmagno
  • 2017: Dr. Shawn Copeland
  • 2014: Thérèse-Anne Druart
  • 2012: Rev. Joseph Komonchak, Ph.D.
  • 2011: Lamin Sanneh
  • 2010: Ron Hansen
  • 2009: Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J.
  • 2008: David Hollenbach, S.J.
  • 2006: Cyprian Davis, O.S.B.
  • 2005: David J. O’Brien
  • 2004: Cardinal Avery Dulles
  • 2003: Peter Steinfels and Margaret O’Brien Steinfels
  • 2002: Mary Douglas
  • 2001: Mary Ann Glendon
  • 2000: Marcia L. Colish
  • 1999: Jill Ker Conway
  • 1998: David W. Tracy
  • 1997: Gustavo Gutierrez
  • 1996: Charles Taylor
  • 1995: J. Bryan Hehir
  • 1994: Philip Gleason
  • 1993: Monika K. Hellwig
  • 1992: Louis Dupré
  • 1991: John T. Noonan, Jr.
  • 1990: Sidney Callahan
  • 1989: Walter Ong, S.J.
  • 1988: Timothy 0’Meara
  • 1987: Rosemary Haughton
  • 1986: John Tracy Ellis

Summer Grants for Catholic Intellectual Tradition Focus

The office of the University Professor of Faith and Culture offers summer grants for faculty research in Catholic intellectual tradition sponsored through the Forum for the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Today. The grants support summer research projects.

For more information, please contact the office of the University Professor of Faith and Culture.

History of the University Professor of Faith and Culture

The position of University Professor of Faith and Culture was created in 1996 and initially held by Fr. James L. Heft, S.M. The chair was endowed by the Marianists as of July 1, 2000. Fr. Jack McGrath, S.M. was the second chair and David O'Brien became the third University Professor of Faith and Culture on July 1, 2009. Miguel H. Díaz, United States Ambassador to the Holy See from 2009-12, served as the fourth chair from 2012-14. Sandra Yocum was appointed as the fifth University Professor of Faith and Culture in 2017 and served until her retirement as Professor Emerita in 2026. Elizabeth Groppe became the sixth University Professor of Faith and Culture in August 2026.