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Education, family, and faith with Cardinal DiNardo

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, attended the 2024 Duc In Altum Schools Summit held at the University of St. Thomas – Houston (UST). While on campus, he took some time to talk with UST President Dr. Richard Ludwick. Together, they had a conversation about the importance of evangelizing in schools and in homes. 

Providing a strong spiritual foundation has always been a hallmark of Catholic education. At the DIA Summit, hundreds of educators gathered to collaborate on new, innovative ways to engage students in their faith. This is a topic of vital importance for both Dr. Ludwick and Cardinal DiNardo.

In their conversation, Cardinal DiNardo and Dr. Ludwick discuss the importance of an excellent and well-rounded education to integrate faith across the curriculum. They also touch on ways educators and parents can highlight beauty and rhetoric for students. And they emphasize the central role parents play in making sure their children receive an excellent education in the faith and beyond. 

Learn more about the 10th Annual DIA Schools Summit. 

When Tradition is the Biggest Innovation

When thinking about innovation in education, we often imagine sleek, modern classrooms filled with smart boards and the latest technology. You wouldn’t be wrong to think that. However, when Dr. Alexis Kutarna and the faculty of Cathedral High School in Houston, Texas think about innovation, they look back and pull from the wealth of tradition behind Catholic education, and aim to do something different. They are not focused on educating their students to simply find a career. While they they do prepare them to do so, they supremely focus on educating the whole person, preparing their students to be good citizens, good Catholics and good people.

In this conversation, Dr. Richard Ludwick, President of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, talks to Dr. Alexis Kutarna, Principal of Cathedral High School in Houston, about the link between tradition and innovation to learn how they apply Catholic Tradition in a modern educational context and why every student should learn how to sing.

Learn more about Dr. Kutarna.

Sharing the Priesthood on Social Media w/ Fr. David Michael Moses

What do priests really do all day? Fr. David Michael Moses tells us on social media - and thousands, even millions, watch.

Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas in Houston, sits down with Fr. David Michael Moses, a well-known speaker, musician, songwriter, parochial vicar at Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Community in Spring, Texas, and UST's 2024 Commencement Speaker.

In this conversation, Fr. David Michael talks about how he discerned the priesthood, his ministry online and in his parish, and how he's preparing to be the keynote speaker at UST's 2024 Commencement Ceremony. Fr. David Michael shares encouragement for how to draw closer to Jesus in prayer and through the Catholic sacraments.

Learn more about Christ the Good Shepherd.

Learn more about Fr. David Michael.

Opportunities for the Neurodiverse w/ Dr. Nicole Walters

St. Maximilian Kolbe has had a profound influence on many of the innovative explorations at University of St. Thomas (UST), including the Kolbe School of Innovation.

In this conversation, Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of UST in Houston, sits down with Dr. Nicole Walters, founding dean of the UST Kolbe School of Innovation and Professional Studies. As Dr. Ludwick calls her the "Queen of Innovation, Dr. Walters shares about the incredible innovative spirit of St. Maximilian and how the Kolbe School helps people who may have never believed they could pursue higher education. Dr. Walters outlines all the interesting programs in the Kolbe School, including opportunities for those who are neurodiverse. She also shares about the myriad of innovative initiatives she is involved in, at UST and beyond.

Learn more about Dr. Walters.

Learn more about AVANCE-Houston.

Where Faith and Culture Collide w/ Dr. Kevin Stuart

The crossroads of where faith and culture collide - that's where the Nesti Center for Faith and Culture goes to work.

In this conversation, Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas (UST), sits down with Dr. Kevin Stuart, Director of the UST Nesti Center for Faith & Culture. Dr. Stuart describes the Nesti Center for Faith and Culture and its impact on people in their day to day life and how they engage in the public square. He describes how the Nesti Center is looking toward the future of faith, what may come next and how we as a society can make better informed choices by listening to the Holy Spirit. A self-proclaimed "political junkie," Dr. Stuart also shares some very interesting data relating to church attendance and marriage.

At UST, Dr. Stuart is also Director of the Master of Public Policy & Administration Program, Director of Catholic Studies and Assistant Professor of Political Science

Learn more about the Nesti Center for Faith and Culture.

Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Sexuality and Gender.

A Unique Student Experience w/ Rich Meyer

JSerra Catholic High School in California has merged innovation and a grounded student experience in ways that help the human person thrive.

In this conversation, Rich Meyer, president of JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., sits down with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas, to discuss the unique model of the high school and their core charisms. Rich shares how, while they have an innovative founding story, they try to ground their student experience in interpersonal connection with one another.

This interview took place at the Duc In Altum Summit in October 2023 at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative, an association of Catholic schools striving for a faith-centered culture, offers an annual summit for professional development for Catholic school and diocesan leaders.

Learn more about Rich.

Learn more about Richard.

Learn more about the DIA Summit.

A Presidential Conversation w/ Dr. Peter Kilpatrick

Innovation in Catholic schools is alive and well, particularly at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

In this interview, Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, president of Catholic University of America, sits down with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas, to discuss Peter's journey to the presidency and how it is going so far at Catholic U. They discuss a few innovative initiatives at Catholic U and how being authentically Catholic is the important thing.

This interview took place at the Duc In Altum Summit in October 2023 at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative, an association of Catholic schools striving for a faith-centered culture, offers an annual summit for professional development for Catholic school and diocesan leaders.

Learn more about Peter.

Learn more about Richard.

Learn more about the DIA Summit.

AI as a Tool w/ John Rocha

Artificial Intelligence can be a valuable tool ... if seen as just that.

In this interview, John Rocha, Head of School at Ozark Catholic Academy in Arkansas, sits down with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas, to discuss John's role at Ozark Academy. A University of St. Thomas alumnus in Master in Liberal Arts program, John and Richard talk about the Catholic intellectual tradition and how the wonder of history and classical arts infuse education. Even with the advances in artificial intelligence, they discuss how AI is a tool to be utilized without replacing the basics tenets of education.

This interview took place at the Duc In Altum Summit in October 2023 at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative, an association of Catholic schools striving for a faith-centered culture, offers an annual summit for professional development for Catholic school and diocesan leaders.

Learn more about John.

Learn more about Richard.

How Hallow Combines Traditional Prayer, Innovation w/ Anne Foster

Can technology make you more prayerful? This is a question to be explored through the Hallow App, the number one prayer app in the world.

In this interview, Anne Foster, Partnership Executive with Hallow, sits down with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas, to discuss Hallow. Anne shares how she had to overcome her biases with attachment to technology and already having her prayer routine, to give Hallow a try and how that that led to her working for Hallow. They also discuss how Hallow provides a "healthier option" for people when they are on their phones and allows people to explore a myriad of ways to pray - combining innovation and traditional methods of prayer.

This interview took place at the Duc In Altum Summit in October 2023 at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative, an association of Catholic schools striving for a faith-centered culture, offers an annual summit for professional development for Catholic school and diocesan leaders.

Learn more about Hallow.

Learn more about Hallow for schools.

Learn more about University of Saint Thomas.

The Art of Nursing w/ Dr. Kristina Leyden

Understanding a person's hobbies and family life affects how nurses at University of Saint Thomas treat patients. This is a part of what UST nurses call "the art of nursing."

In this interview, Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas, sits down with Dr. Kristina Leyden, nursing professor in the UST Carol and Odis Peavy School of Nursing and Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Endowed Chair in Nursing. Her accolades are many, but she shares how she helps integrate a wholistic approach to patient care through the Nursing Simulation Center. She discusses how her team helps students prepare for disasters and how nurses are creative and innovative by nature. Finally, Dr. Ludwick asks about the interesting things that round out Dr. Leyden's life including her fascination with nature and homeopathic therapies, her missionary experiences in Honduras and her thriving urban garden.

Learn more about Dr. Leyden.

Learn more about UST Nursing.

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