The Honors Program at Denison University is marking its 15th anniversary this month with celebratory dinners, discussion groups and presentations by a noted philosopher. Re-established in 1987 by a special faculty committee and the endorsement of University President Andrew De Rocco, the Honors Program is housed in Gilpatrick House, directed by Professor Anthony Lisska, and designed to give highly motivated and successful students additional opportunities to explore ideas. The anniversary celebration marks the program's many contributions to the life of the college, both academic and extra-curricular.

Brian Davies, professor of philosophy and director of graduate studies at Fordham University, will give a free, public lecture at 7:30 p.m. on Monday (March 25) in Slayter Hall Auditorium celebrating the Honors Program. The convocation is sponsored by the Goodspeed Lectureship Series, the religion and philosophy departments and the Honors Program . Davies topic for this All-College Convocation is "God and Evil." A reception will follow the lecture.

Other events during the celebratory week include a dinner and program on Wednesday (March 27) at which a second presentation by Davies on "Thomas Aquinas and the Academic Life" will be given, along with other congratulatory messages. Davies will also meet with students in a seminar class studying Aquinas and will lead them in a discussion of "Aquinas and Proofs for the Existence of God." Faculty members who meet regularly in a reading group will be discussing Davies' essay on "The Problem of Evil" with him at a Tuesday evening dinner meeting. Students who have applied for prestigious national and international scholarships, such as the Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright, will be feted at a cream tea on Tuesday afternoon.

On the faculty of Fordham University since 1995, Davies, a Dominican priest, also has served in a number of positions at Oxford University including lecturer in theology and philosophy at Blackfriars, regent of studies of the English Dominican Province and regent of Blackfriars Hall. Davies has served as a visiting professor at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, at theCollegio Bedain Rome and at King's College, London University.

He is the author of 10 books, includingAn Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, Thinking About God, The Thought of Thomas Aquinas, Philosophy of Religion: A Guide and Anthologyand, his most recentAquinas's "De Malo". Davies has also contributed to numerous other books and journals, is editor of the seriesOutstanding Christian Thinkers, and is the associate European editor and book editor of the International Philosophical Quarterly.

Davies earned his bachelor's degree at Bristol University and both his master of theology and doctoral degrees at King's College, London University. He also holds a master of arts from Oxford University by special decree of the University.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575