The Just and Moral Society: From Ideal to Reality

SPEAKERS AND MODERATORS

Joseph L. Adolphe joined the faculty in the Department of Fine Arts in St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2000.   Named a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow in 2006, he continues to explore the spiritual in art and the creation of a moral society. In addition to his teaching, Professor Adolphe exhibits his paintings regularly and his illustrations appear in numerous local and national journals and publications. He holds an M.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts, NY. He lives with his wife and five daughters in New Haven, CT.

Molly Biklen is a Skadden Fellow at the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center .   Prior to coming to the Urban Justice Center , she served as a law clerk for Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 2005-2006, and as a law clerk to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the Southern District of New York in 2004-2005.   Ms. Biklen earned a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 2004.

Brett Elizabeth Blake is an Associate Professor, coordinator of the Graduate Adolescent Education Programs in the School of Education and Senior Vincentian Research Fellow.    She has written several articles and has authored or co-authored seven books related to the challenges "multiply-marginalized" students face in their language and literacy learning in a society that continues to perpetuate inequitable standards for education and achievement.   Dr. Blake holds an M.A. in linguistics from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Barrett P. Brenton is a biocultural anthropologist who is presently an Associate Professor of Anthropology at St. John's University and a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow. As a specialist in nutritional/medical anthropology, his cross-cultural research is focused on international food security and policy, meeting the healthcare needs of the poor and the health consequences of dietary change. Dr. Brenton's applied research experience has taken him to both rural and urban impoverished areas across the U.S., to the Peruvian Andes and the Ecuadorian Amazon, to Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. He holds a M.A., Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Elizabeth Brondolo is a Professor of Psychology in St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow.   She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the State University of New Jersey at Rutgers.   Dr. Brondolo specializes in the study of social stress and health and has conducted research projects on work, stress, racism, and poverty and their effects on ambulatory blood pressure.   She directs a laboratory at St. John's funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, among others.   In her clinical work, Dr. Brondolo specialized in treating bipolar and schizoaffective disorders.  

Gina M. Calabrese is the Associate director, Elder Law Clinic and Assistant Professor for Clinical Education, St. John's University School of Law. Named a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow in 2007, Professor Calabrese's research and teaching focus on access to legal services for the poor and vulnerable.   Prior to clinical teaching, Professor Calabrese headed the Litigation Department of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a California consumer advocacy group. Professor Calabrese holds a Juris Doctorate from Fordham University.

Charles M.A. Clark , appointed Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in 2005, is a Professor of Economics in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John's University. Named a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow in 2002, his research interests include poverty and income inequality, and Catholic social thought.   He is co-editor of Rethinking Abundance: Interdisciplinary Essays within the Catholic Social Thought Tradition (with Helen Alford, Steve Cortright and Mike Norton, University of Notre Dame Press, 2005).   Professor Clark holds a Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research, NY.

John J. Coughlin, O.F.M., a Roman Catholic priest in the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), joined the Notre Dame Law School faculty in 2003. He earned his B.A. degree from Niagara University, an M.A. from Columbia University, a master's degree in theology (Th.M.) from Princeton Seminary, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and his license and doctorate of canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.   Fr. Coughlin taught at St. John's University School of Law prior to joining the faculty at Notre Dame.   He teaches in the areas of professional responsibility, canon law, marriage, and legal ethics. His scholarly writing has a comparative focus on the understandings of the human person underpinning canon law and Anglo-American law.   Father Coughlin has served as counsel and trustee for several Catholic institutions and was a member of the delegation of the Holy See to the United Nations' treaty conference that established the International Criminal Court.

Mary Ann Dantuono is the Associate Director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society at St. John's University.   Prior to joining the Vincentian Center, Ms. Dantuono served the R.C. Diocese of Rockville Centre as the Director of Public Policy and Legal Affairs for Catholic Charities.   An expert on women's issues for the Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, she is also a member of the Social Policy Committee of Catholic Charities USA, and on the boards of several human service organizations. Mrs. Dantuono earned a Juris Doctor at St. John's University School of Law.

Simon Aben Deng, a refugee of southern Sudan, was abducted and sold into slavery at the age of nine.   After his escape, Mr. Deng went on to work as a messenger in the Sudanese parliament and later to become a national swimming champion.   Today he is an American citizen, and a leader in the struggle to stop slavery and genocide in Sudan. He has addressed audiences across the United States, including students at Harvard, Yale, and Columbia University.   Mr. Deng has made presentations to and was consulted by the United Nations Human Rights Council and has met with President Bush and Southern Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

Oscar de Rojas is the Director of the Financing for Development Office in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.   Before joining the United Nations in 1999, Mr. de Rojas served for 27 years in the Venezuelan Foreign Service, attaining the rank of Ambassador, and holding senior-level posts in his country's diplomatic missions at the UN headquarters in both New York and Geneva, and the Venezuelan Mission in Paris, as well as in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself in Caracas.    Mr. de Rojas has Masters degrees in Economics and in International Affairs from Columbia University.   He is active in a number of development, human rights and humanitarian-oriented organizations and was recently named Consultor to the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Catherine Feeney, SSND , is the Director of the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center in Jamaica, NY.   A professional educator, Sister Cathy has taught primary through high school grades, as has served in administrative positions as well. For eight years, Sister Catherine served in ministry at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Jamaica. In 2002, her community founded the SSND Educational Center to offer educational opportunities to women.   Since 2003 over 100 women have earned their GED.

Ellen Patricia Finn, O.P ., a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Amityville NY, is the Associate Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Brooklyn.   Sister's responsibilities include all initiatives related to Catholic Charities Mission and its commitment to Social Justice, Parish and Community Growth and Development.   She holds a Masters Degree in Education from Boston College, a Masters Degree in Social Work from Hunter College and is licensed by the State of New York in the fields of Education and Social Work.  Sister Ellen is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Catholic Charities USA, serving as Diocesan Director for Parish Social Ministry.

Sue M. Ford is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in St. John's College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions and a Vincentian Research Fellow.   She earned her Ph.D. in human nutrition from Michigan State University.   A New York State licensed nutritionist and Diplomate, American Board of Toxicology, Dr. Ford teaches biopharmaceutical chemistry, toxicology, biochemistry and public health to undergraduate and graduate students.   Dr. Ford directs a lab where she uses cell culture to study responses of the kidney to toxicants.  

Joel Forman, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Community and Preventive Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, is also the Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Training Program.   For the last seven years Dr. Forman has worked with Dr. Philip J. Landrigan to create a Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) at Mount Sinai.   Dr. Forman has worked in a broad array of pediatric environmental health areas focusing lately on lead poisoning in pregnant women, and is currently a member of a CDC workgroup that is examining this issue on a national basis.   He has also served as co-chair of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association's Pediatric Environmental Health Special Interest Group and is currently a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health.

Marc E. Gillespie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in St. John's College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions and a Vincentian Research Fellow.   He has also served as the interim director of the Institute for Biotechnology and the chair of the Institutional Biosafety committee at St. Johns.   A molecular biologist with specialties in protein biochemistry, bioinformatics, proteomics, and toxicology, Dr. Gillespie leads his own research lab focused on creating affordable high-tech proteomic methods for small laboratories. He teaches gene technology, public health, human anatomy and physiology, and has experience from academia and industry to public health policy.   He holds a Ph.D. in oncological sciences from the University of Utah and is currently a Reactome editor, a multinational bioinformatic project. Dr. Gillespie has been developing tools for and teaching science for twenty years.

Mary Halpine is a native of Canada and a founding member of the World Youth Alliance International . She completed four internships for the WYA in New York and Brussels while finishing her studies at the University of New Brunswick as a Biology Major, Psychology Minor, graduating First Division.  After graduation, Ms. Halpine spent two months in Mexico City studying Spanish and teaching English. She has traveled extensively through Germany, Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, Belgium, Mexico, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, the Congo, the Philippines and within the US and Canada. After acceptance, she chose to put medical school on hold upon her election by the Board of WYA to become the second president of the Alliance in 2007.  

Margaret Hanson has been affiliated with the Vincentian family for over three decades.   She has worked with the national board of directors of the Ladies of Charity of the United States (LCUSA) for over ten years and was elected to a term as national president in 2002.   She is presently the elected representative of Ladies of Charity USA to the executive board of AIC (International Association of Charities) as the USA representative.   The AIC was founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1617 in France to fight all forms of poverty and injustice. Ms. Hanson is a clinical social worker (LCSW) and worked in the in-patient psychiatry unit at Binghamton General Hospital for 23 years.   Ms. Hanson is a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD).   After retiring from the hospital, she joined Samaritan Counseling Center.   Ms. Hanson holds a Masters in Social Work from Marywood University, PA, and a Masters in Religious Education from The Catholic University of America.  

Margaret John Kelly, DC , a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, is the Executive Director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society . Sister Margaret lectures and publishes in the area of governance and ethics, and held faculty and administrative positions at St. Joseph College, Labouré College and St. John's University.   She serves on the Board of Trustees of Catholic Health Services of Long Island and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, and is presently an advisor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Social Development and World Peace.   Sister holds a Ph.D. from St. John's University.

Belenna M. Lauto is an Associate Professor of Photography in St. John's College and a Vincentian Research Fellow.   Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and is in several museum and private collections including the Center for Photography at Woodstock, NY, Islip Art Museum, and the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art.   For the past ten years she has been documenting the work of Mommas House, an organization that helps to educate homeless, single young mothers, in all aspects of life.   She also coordinates the Very Special Arts Queens Festival, which provides a venue of art education for children with special needs.

Abdi Lidonde is the founder and President of the Beverly School of Kenya . Born and raised in Kakamega Kenya, Mr. Lidonde received his primary and secondary education in Kenya, and his higher education at Worcester State College in Massachusetts where he currently resides.   Aggrey Abdi Lidonde has worked at the College of the Holy Cross for the last 24 years and is currently a senior Supervisor in the Physical Plant Department. He has been heavily involved in numerous community activities including serving on the Worcester Public Schools Committee for Integration, and is chairman of IKAM LLC.  

Carmen Maquilon is the Program Director at Catholic Charities Immigrant Services, Diocese of Rockville Centre. Ms. Maquilon and her family emigrated from Colombia in 1975.   Carmen has a degree in Business and Management from the State University of New York. For the past 14 years Carmen has supervised services provided to over 10,000 immigrants and citizens per year. She is a board member of the New York Immigration Coalition, the Long Island Immigrant Alliance and she chairs the Immigration Committee for the NYS Council of Catholic Charities Directors. Ms. Maquilon is a fully accredited representative with the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Marilyn A. Martone is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow.   Dr. Martone holds a Ph.D. from Fordham University and her research and publications probe the distribution of health care services primarily in the area of rehabilitation and justice for women. In the spring of 2007 she was a Weill Cornell Medical College Disabilities Ethics Fellow.   Dr. Martone teaches graduate and undergraduate theology students, offering courses in Theology in the Marketplace, Health Care Ethics, and Women, Children and Justice.   She is widely published in many academic journals and has lectured internationally.   Since 2004, she has served as an expert on women for the Holy See Mission to the United Nations.  

Thomas F. McKenna, C.M. , presently serving as Provincial Superior of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, is also a trustee of St. John's University. He is on leave from the Theology Department of St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he taught Spirituality. Father McKenna has published extensively in various theological journals and has authored Praying with St. Vincent de Paul.   Father earned a Doctorate in Systematic Theology from The Catholic University of America, Th.M. from Mary Immaculate Seminary, and his M.A. in Philosophy from St. John's University. The University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters.  

Basilio G. Monteiro is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Mass Communication, Journalism, TV & Film in the College of Professional Studies at St. John's University and a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow.   He earned a Ph.D. at The Union Institute and University (Ohio) in Mass Communication and Media Studies. His areas of particular research interest are International Communication and Development, Media and Public Policy, Theology of Communication.   In early 2007, Professor Monteiro organized a conference with the Diocese of Goa, India on Global Communications and Development and he recently returned from a Conference on Theology and Communications in Ariccia, Roma.  

Clare Nolan, R.G.S. , is the representative at the United Nations in New York for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, an NGO with consultative status for the United Nations Economic and Social Council.   Sister Clare holds a Masters of Social Work and a Certificate in International Affairs from New York University.   Trafficking has been an issue of concern for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, an international congregation whose members provide direct social service across the globe to women and girls who have been prostituted and/or trafficked for sexual exploitation.   Sister Clare has led the Congregation's efforts in the United Nations since 1999.   She has spoken throughout the United States as well as organized and presented at several international workshops on trafficking including the Second World Congress against the Sexual Exploitation of Children, 2001, Yokohama Japan; The World Social Forum, Mumbai India, 2004; and annually at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, NY.

Robert F. Pecorella is an Associate Professor in the Department of Government and Politics, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow at St. John's University.   He has served as a Professor-in-Residence with the New York State Assembly Intern Program as well as chair of his department at St. John's. Professor Pecorella is the author of Community Power in a Postreform City, a coauthor of the Politics of Structure, and a coeditor of Governing New York State . His articles have appeared in numerous journals including: Polity, Public Administration Review, and the Journal of Urban Affairs.   His most recent research has focused on the intersection of Catholic social thought and American political culture.   He holds a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

Michael A. Simons is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship at St. John's University School of Law.   He teaches courses in Evidence, Criminal Law, and Sentencing.   He was appointed a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow in 2003 pursuing his research interest in the role of remorse in sentencing.   He clerked for the Honorable Louis F. Oberdorfer of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and later served as a staff attorney for The Washington Post as an associate at Stillman, Friedman & Shaw, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York. He holds a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School where he was also editor of the Law Review.

Susan J. Stabile is the Robert and Marion Short Distinguished Chair in Law and Professor of Law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis MN. Professor Stabile is among the nation's leading scholars on pensions and employee benefits.   She is the co-author of the leading casebook, Pension and Employee Benefit Law (Foundation Press) and the treatise "ERISA Litigation" (BNA).   Upon leaving St. John's School of Law in 2007, she was named the first Affiliate Vincentian Research Fellow to continue her collaboration on Catholic social thought and the law.   Professor Stabile holds a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.   

Robert R. Tomes is an Associate Professor in the Division of Social Sciences, College of Professional Studies, and a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow at St. John's University.   His research interests are the social and moral costs of war in the American experience and political activism in youth.   Professor Tomes recently completed a research tour of Vietnam.   He holds a Ph. D. in History from New York University.   He is the author of Apocalypse Then:   American Intellectuals and the Vietnam War, and co-author of American Issues , an American history textbook now in its 5 th edition .  

Christopher P. Vogt is an Associate Professor of Christian Ethics in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and was named a Senior Vincentian Research Fellow in 2007.   He holds a Ph.D. from Boston College in Theological Ethics. His research and writing is focused in Fundamental Moral Theology, Catholic Social Ethics and Virtue Ethics. He has published numerous papers and is the author of Patience, Compassion, Hope and the Christian Art of Dying Well .

Veronica M. White is the Executive Director of the New York City Center for Economic Opportunity established by Mayor Bloomberg under Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs.   Ms. White has worked as a consultant specializing in strategic business planning and management for non-profits, real estate development and environmental issues, and public-private partnerships.   She has served in various executive positions, including Chief Operating Officer of the New York City Partnership and President and CEO of the New York City Housing Partnership.  Ms. White has also served as Deputy Commissioner of Planning, Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.   She practiced law at the firms of Brown & Wood and Sidley & Austin.   Ms. White received a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a Juris Doctorate from the Harvard Law School.

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