“Cultural Inflection Point” ft. Comment’s Anne Snyder I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 34 Post

In the thirty-fourth episode of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Anne Snyder, Editor-In-Chief of Comment. Snyder begins by talking about the role she plays as someone residing at borders in a society seemingly engaged in perpetual fragmentation. She notes people such as Dorothy Day who inspired her and how she strives to impart the wisdom afforded by such examples through the leadership she offers Comment. Ream and Snyder then talk about what biographical details may have led to Snyder’s ability to reside at borders including growing up abroad, traveling extensively in Southeast Asia, dinner conversations she shared with her family of origin, and the example her grandfather set as a Bible translator who lived in the Peruvian Amazon. They talk in greater detail about Comment, how topics are selected and framed, and how Snyder hopes such efforts nurture the audience they serve. Ream and Snyder then close their conversation by exploring a recent issue od Comment focused on the Church and Snyder’s impressions of the relationship the Church and the university presently share.

“Third Way Solutions” ft. Westmont College’s Gayle D. Beebe I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 12 Post

In the twelfth episode of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Gayle D. Beebe, President of Westmont College. Gayle talks about how his approach to leadership emerged over time along with how leading a community through crises impacted it. They talk about the unique opportunities and challenges that come with leading a Christian liberal arts college in California and how Gayle and his colleagues have fostered a host of third way solutions. They then close by talking about the unique contributions the Christian liberal arts college and the Church make to one another and about the mutually reinforcing benefits of their vibrancy.

“An Essential Light” ft. the University of Notre Dame’s George M. Marsden I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 5 Post

In this episode of the Saturdays at Seven Podcast, Todd Ream interviews George Marsden, the Francis M. McAnaney Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Todd and George discuss how the Christian Scholar’s Review began and how it has grown over the years. George also talks about his newly published book, An Infinite Fountain of Light: Jonathan Edwards for the 21st Century, as well as the updated version of The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship that will be published soon.

“One Foot in the Academy and One Foot in the Church” ft. Campbell University’s J. Bradley Creed I Saturdays at Seven – Season Two, Episode Thirty-Three Post

In the thirty-third episode of the second season of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with J. Bradley Creed, President of Campbell University. Creed opens by discussing how events in 1979 within the Southern Baptist Convention set in motion a host of changes that would begin by impacting the six Southern Baptist seminaries and eventually, depending upon the state convention, impact historically Southern Baptist colleges and universities. Creed’s service to Baptist higher education took place in the wake of those events, including as a dean at Baylor University, provost at Samford University, and, for the last ten years, president of Campbell University. While Creed spent most of his time directly serving colleges and universities, he shares how the calling which he received was one that led him to have one foot in the academy and one foot in the Church. Such a vocational understanding proved helpful as Creed sought to nurture frameworks for Christian commitment at the institutions he directly served in the wake of rapid changes occurring in Southern Baptist life. Creed then closes by discussing how his understanding of the academic vocation emerged over the years and the ways Campbell seeks to foster an appreciation for the Christian academic vocation amongst educators who join their community.

“Deeper in Their Experience of God” ft. the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Cardinal Blase J. Cupich I Saturdays at Seven – Season Two, Episode Fifteen Post

In the fifteenth episode of the second season of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago. Cupich opens by sharing how he came to learn about Chicago’s rich history, appreciate its diverse cultures, and engage with parishioners who worship in the Archdiocese’s 216 churches—churches in which Mass is said in 50 different languages each week. Ream then asks the Cardinal about his formation for the priesthood, the experiences that shaped his calling including his education at the University of St. Thomas, the Gregorian University, and Catholic University of America. Cupich shares details concerning his service as a parish priest, as a seminary rector, and as Secretary and Nunciature for the Apostolic Delegation at the Embassy of the Holy See in Washington, DC. Ream asks Cupich about how his service as Bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City and as Bishop of the Diocese of Spokane prepared him for his appointment as Archbishop of Chicago and as a member of the College of Cardinals. The conversation then shifts to a more formal discussion of higher education and what lessons the Society of Jesus’s (Jesuit’s) Mission Priority Examen offers Catholic colleges and universities sponsored by other orders as well as Protestant colleges and universities. Ream and Cupich close their discussion by exploring the role Cupich plays as a Cardinal and Archbishop in the lives of Catholic colleges and universities, how Cupich understands the academic vocation, and the ways the Church and the university can be of greater service to one another.

“A Great Endeavor” ft. Samford University’s J. Michael Hardin I Saturdays at Seven – Season Two, Episode Thirteen Post

In the thirteenth episode of the second season of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with J. Michael Hardin, Professor of Quantitative Analysis (and former Provost) at Samford University and a Fellow of the American Statistical Association. Hardin begins by discussing how the history of “Big Data” reaches back to the 1940s and 1950s, what can be learned from that history, and how the use of such data relates to the rise of artificial intelligence. He then also discusses how the disciplines comprising the liberal arts provide the wisdom artificial intelligence needs. Ream and Hardin discuss Hardin’s own experience as a mathematician and data scientist, how his interests in those fields emerged, and the relationship those interests share to degrees he also earned in philosophy and theology. They explore Hardin’s experience as a scholar at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, his experience as an administrator at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa, and his recently completed tenure as provost at Samford University. Hardin offers details concerning how his article in the fall 2024 issue of Christian Scholar’s Review relates to the leadership he sought to exercise at Samford and the experiences he now hopes to encounter during his service as a full-time faculty member. Ream and Hardin close by discussing Hardin’s understanding of the academic vocation he sought to cultivate at Samford, how Hardin’s emerging interests in musical composition relate to his interests in mathematics, philosophy, and theology, and his experience coaching a football team that defeated a team led by College Football Hall of Fame nominee Nick Saban.

“About, With, & From” ft. Calvin University’s Noah J. Toly I Saturdays at Seven – Season Two, Episode Ten Post

In the tenth episode of the second season of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Noah J. Toly, Provost at Calvin University. As an urban affairs scholar, Toly opens by talking about what he sees when visiting a city and, in particular, what he appreciates about the cultural assets each city possesses. He shares ways those assets can continue to be cultivated and the three cities which he finds most fascinating—Mexico City, Berlin, and Chicago. Toly then details which teachers and authors proved most significant in terms of his appreciation for cities and how his work with Wheaton College’s Center for Urban Engagement fostered within him a desire to continue to learn about people and their communities as well as an even greater desire to learn with and even from those people. Ream asks Toly about his article in the recent issue of Christian Scholar’s Review about Toly’s appreciation for Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “The American Scholar,” the limitations Toly sees in Emerson’s thinking, and about Toly’s understanding of the contributions historic Christian orthodoxy offers in terms of an understanding of the academic vocation. Ream and Toly conclude by discussing Toly’s understanding of the contributions Calvin University has made to the academic vocation and the ways that the relationship shared by the Church and the university nurture such an understanding.

“Conceptual Mapping” ft. Queen’s University Belfast’s David N. Livingstone I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 43 Post

In the forty-third episode of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and Intellectual History Emeritus at Queen’s University Belfast. Livingstone opens by detailing the sufficiencies and insufficiencies of maps. As finite constructs devised for specific purposes, some maps, for example, may do a good job of offering expedient directions between two points. What those maps may lack, however, is the ability to note the cultural transitions people may experience while traveling between those points. Ream and Livingstone then transition to discussing Livingstone’s education and career in Belfast. Arching across much of the season known in Northern Ireland as The Troubles, Livingstone notes that although academic life at Queen’s University Belfast occurred relatively uninterrupted, daily life came to include observing security measures that became second nature. They also discuss a sample of Livingstone’s books including Dealing with Darwin, Livingstone’s widely cited Putting Science in Its Place, and Livingstone’s recently released The Empire of Climate. Ream and Livingstone then close their conversation by discussing the academic vocation, the virtues it demands, and the university’s responsibility for nurturing the commitments that define such a vocation.

“A Gift Deferred” ft. Houghton University’s Shirley A. Mullen I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 41 Post

In the forty-first episode of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Shirley Mullen, President Emerita of Houghton University. Mullen begins by talking about her understanding of the liberal arts, the long history they share in the Christian intellectual tradition, and critical role they play in Christian higher education. While acknowledging the challenges the liberal arts presently face, Mullen also contends that the gifts they offer are often deferred and, in turn, demand faculty members and administrators become more articulate about the long-term benefits of such a form of education. Ream then asks Mullen about her own experiences with the liberal arts, the education she received as a philosopher and historian, and the impact those experiences had on her service as a provost and as a president. While a president, Mullen also notes those experiences compelled her to think through the ways the Christian intellectual tradition can become captivated by socio-political forces on the right and the left, leading her to write Claiming the Courageous Middle. Ream and Mullen then close their conversation with a discussion of Mullen’s understanding of the academic vocation and how the Church and the university can work together to foster the virtues needed to cultivate, sustain, and advance such a calling.

“Predictable Transparency” ft. Creighton University’s Mardell A. Wilson I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 39 Post

In the thirty-ninth episode of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Mardell A. Wilson, Provost at Creighton University. Wilson begins by detailing the charisms that define the Jesuit order and how those charisms informed the long-standing investment the Jesuits made in higher education in the United States. Wilson then explores how those charisms translate into a full understanding of truth as expressed in the curriculum as well as a full understanding of what it means to be human as expressed in whole person education. Ream and Wilson discuss Wilson’s upbringing on a farm in central Illinois and how the approach to work exemplified by her parents impacted her approach to work as a college administrator. They then discuss how Wilson’s own search for meaning in education led her to embrace service as a dean at St. Louis University and then as the provost at Creighton University. Ream and Wilson then close out their conversation by discussing the importance of healthy communication and the impact such communication has on the ability of students and faculty to thrive. While faculty, in particular, often come to campus with a firm foundation for success in their respective fields, what they also need—especially in those early years—are clear, consistent visions of the academic vocation that weave together teaching, service, and research in light of an institution’s mission.

“The Vibrant Variety of God” ft. Fuller Theological Seminary’s David Emmanuel Goatley I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 35 Post

In the thirty-fifth episode of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with David Emmanuel Goatley, President of Fuller Theological Seminary. Goatley opens by exploring what is theologically at stake when we seek to practice justice and the relationship that practice inherently shares with ecumenism and missions. Ream and Goatley shift to talking about Goatley’s calling to ministry, the importance of God’s efforts to prepare people for the contexts where they are called serve, and the importance of God’s efforts to prepare the contexts to receive the people who are called to serve them. Two of the most important people through whom God worked when preparing Goatley for his calling to ministry were his parents—a father who pastored the same church for almost fifty years and a mother who was served in a host of contexts in the community where they lived including, at the end of her career, being an advocate for childhood well-being. They close their conversation by exploring Goatley’s research concerning flourishing in ministry, thriving congregations, and how those lessons are incorporated into how he and his colleagues at Fuller serve their students.

“Building Bridges” ft. the University of Oxford’s Alister McGrath I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 15 Post

In the fifteenth episode of the Saturdays at Seven conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Alister McGrath, a Senior Research Fellow with the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, the Andreos Idreos Professor of Science and Religion Emeritus, and a Fellow Emeritus with Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford. McGrath opens by talking about his interest in the work of Fr. Tomáš Halík and the relevance of Halík’s work for Christian discipleship in a postsecular age. McGrath then details how he goes about evaluating the merits of intellectual work and how to build bridges between theology and various disciplines and then, in particular, between theology and the natural sciences. Ream and McGrath then close their conversation by talking about contributions Christian scholars can make to the Church and how scholars can persist even when their work appears to be of no immediate interest to the Church.

“On Par With, But Distinct From” ft. the University of Notre Dame’s John T. McGreevy I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 11 Post

In the eleventh episode of the “Saturdays at Seven” podcast, Todd Ream interviews John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost and the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame. John talks about his calling as an historian and as an academic administrator. Then, they talk about Notre Dame’s unique contribution to higher education and the Catholic Church. Part of how they close their conversation focuses on how “Notre Dame 2033: A Strategic Framework,” seeks to position the university well to respond to the challenges and opportunities that face a university on par with, but distinct from the world’s greatest universities.

“A Sense of Worship” ft. Saint Joseph’s University’s Cheryl A. McConnell I Saturdays at Seven – Season Two, Episode Forty Post

In the fortieth episode of the second season of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Cheryl A. McConnell, President of Saint Joseph’s University. McConnell begins by discussing how ethical leadership emerged for her as an area of interest and eventually even became an area of expertise. Part of that emergence has to do with her background as a practitioner and as a scholar in accounting, a discipline which often asks for moral decisions to be made for which no preset battery of answers exist. As a result, moral formation must continue incrementally as one grows as a leader in the profession, allowing for ethical decision making to be reflexive or habitual. McConnell discusses the transition she made from serving as an accounting practitioner to an accounting scholar and how that process of discernment was set into motion when the firm for which she worked asked her to lead training seminars for junior colleagues. The transition she made from being a dean to a provost and now to a president was rooted in a discernment process that existed at the intersection of an institution’s leadership needs and the intrinsic joy she derived from the work. The one limitation McConnell shares that she set was that her willingness to serve where needed was limited to Jesuit colleges and universities due to her abiding belief in the missions of those institutions and the charisms that animate them. As provost and then as president of Saint Joseph’s University, McConnell explores how she and her colleagues fostered relationships with institutions in Philadelphia that would allow the university to expand its service in the health sciences. She then closes by discussing how the Jesuit institutions in Philadelphia work together to provide orientation for new board members along with ongoing formation.

“For and With Others” ft. Marquette University’s Kimo Ah Yun I Saturdays at Seven – Season Two, Episode Thirty-Seven Post

In the thirty-seventh episode of the second season of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Kimo Ah Yun, President of Marquette University. As a communication scholar, Ah Yun opens by discussing how he designs messages and leverages platforms in ways that reach various internal and external constituents, emphasizing the ways those efforts also had to change as he accepted appointments as a dean, provost, and president. He then discusses how he came to serve as a communication scholar, the teachers who invested in him, and the ways he seeks to invest in students. After serving on the faculty at Cal State Sacramento for twenty years, Ah Yun describes how the core of Marquette’s mission of service “for and with others” led him and his family to move to Milwaukee. That move then allowed Ah Yun to integrate the life he was leading at Church with the life he was leading at the university in ways that advanced Marquette’s mission as a Jesuit Catholic university. Ah Yun offers insights concerning the discernment process that also led him to accept appointments as Marquette’s provost and president while also offering advice for other laypersons considering appointments as presidents at Church-related colleges and universities with long histories of clerical leadership. Drawing from insights gained through long-standing service as a scholar, teacher, and educational leader, Ah Yun concludes by offering insights concerning his understanding of the academic vocation and how he seeks to draw upon Marquette’s mission as a means of helping all members of the community flourish.

“An Appeal to the Head and the Heart” ft. John Brown University’s Charles W. Pollard I Saturdays at Seven – Season Two, Episode Thirty-Nine Post

In the thirty-ninth episode of the second season of the “Saturdays at Seven” conversation series, Todd Ream talks with Charles W. Pollard, President of John Brown University. Pollard opens by sharing how his vocation was shaped by the study of law and the study of English. Each practice of study allowed Pollard to cultivate his gifts in ways that made it possible for him to navigate the created order while also being of service to others. He then explores how mentors such as his father, fellow students, and teachers contributed to his vocational formation. Pollard shares how those seemingly disparate forms of vocational formation converged through service he offered on various organizational boards and now for over two decades has offered as president of John Brown University. As a president, Pollard discusses how he views himself as a scholar-practitioner who, despite the demands for his time, still regularly co-teaches a course. He also discusses how he views philanthropy as a practice of storytelling and board service as the cultivation of fiduciary community. Pollard then closes by sharing how the university and the Church can be of even greater service to one another in the years to come.