NEWBURGH, N.Y. — Scholars and students of philosophy, especially those interested in the work of Thomas Aquinas, gathered June 23 to 26 at Mount St. Mary College, where Kevin Mackin, OFM, is president.
Mount St. Mary’s Catholic and Dominican Institute, in conjunction with the Thomistic Institute of the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., sponsored the Inaugural Philosophy Workshop: Thomas Aquinas and Contemporary Philosophy.
Kevin welcomed the attendees, who came from Canada, Italy, Switzerland, England, Spain, Germany and the United States, and included representatives from universities such as Duke, Fordham, Princeton, Yale and Catholic University of America. He participated in several workshops, meals and liturgies.
Strategic Planning
Hosting this workshop was just the start to a busy summer for Kevin, according to Janet Gianopoulos, his assistant for community relations. Just ending his third year as president, Kevin continues to lead the college in its ambitious strategic plan. One of the college’s accomplished goals, according to Gianopoulos, was the establishment of the Catholic and Dominican Institute.
Kevin has also tackled other large projects in his short time at the college. “One of his tasks when Kevin was brought to the Mount as president was to explore the possible purchase of the Dominican Center adjacent to the campus,” according to Gianopoulos. The college expects to close this month on the Dominicans’ 13-acre parcel and is poised for a capital campaign, focusing on building a library/learning commons, student housing, and academic space.
Welcoming and Speaking
Summer orientation at MSMC took place this week, with Kevin greeting approximately 435 incoming freshmen and their families. The college expects “another robust enrollment” of around 2,700, said Gianopoulos, including transfer students, accelerated adults and master’s degree candidates.
Kevin and his staff also recently welcomed two new administrators — Art Criss from Dominican University of California as vice president for enrollment management, and Mary Hinton, from Misericordia University in Pennsylvania as vice president for planning and assessment. A new college chaplain, Fr. Francis Amodio, O. Carm., returns after summer mission work.
Kevin, a popular speaker in the community, recently addressed the Kiwanis Club of Newburgh and a retirement celebration for a local bank president. He teaches a course on Christian theological tradition, celebrates Sunday liturgies at Holy Spirit Church in Cortland Manor, N.Y., and is the commissioner of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, chairing the Skyline Athletic Conference. In addition, he serves on the board of directors of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Pattern for Progress, and the Newburgh Armory Unity Center leadership team.
Photos of the philosophy workshop are available on the Catholic and Dominican Institute page of the Mount St. Mary College website, Gianopoulos said.
— Wendy Healy is a freelance writer based in Connecticut.