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| EDUCATING LEADERS OF FAITH & CHARACTER |
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Fr. Anthony E. Giampietro, C.S.B.
Assistant Professor, Philosophy department
Years at UST: 4
Fr. Anthony E. Giampietro encourages students to pursue the truth. A philosophy professor, Fr. Giampietro is living his dream at UST.
 “Teaching philosophy allows me the opportunity to help students pursue the truth with charity. The fact that it is philosophy and not theology means that we do not start with presuppositions about faith,” he says. “As a result, I think my teaching helps to prepare students to live and interact well within a religiously pluralistic society without abandoning a strong sense of truths that can be known by all human beings.”
Specifically, he says he enjoys “helping them see the truth in their convictions while challenging them to consider aspects they had not previously considered.
“I tell my students that philosophy is particularly important in a pluralistic society such as ours. I think our department truly prepares students to think critically about issues in such a way that they can communicate meaningfully with persons of other faiths and with persons of no faith,” he says. “That we combine this philosophical background with the education students receive in our many other excellent departments is the major strength of the University.”
The strength of UST’s academic programs—and particularly its core curriculum combined with excellent preparation for graduate schools in a variety of fields—drew Fr. Giampietro to the University. UST’s goal of providing a strong liberal arts education, while at the same time preparing students to be leaders in their field, inspires him. “It is an honor to teach here,” he says. “Some of our students are among the best in the country. What make them even better is their humility and their desire to learn. Not only are they intelligent, they are persons of great integrity.”
Chosen to be the professor for the final semester of the Honors program—Senior Seminar—for two years in a row, Fr. Giampietro has worked with the best students on projects of academic and personal importance. Each seminar culminates in a group presentation to the University community, family, and friends on Undergraduate Research Day. Students are given an hour to present and to answer questions. In 2005, the class chose to do research on “The Breakdown of the Family.”
“It was clear that there would be some things on which we would not be able to come to a consensus,” says Fr. Giampietro.”There was respectful disagreement, and students were remarkably open to having their presuppositions challenged. It was not uncommon to hear such things as ‘I wish I could make the statistics say otherwise, but I may instead need to change my thoughts on the matter.’or ‘I had just assumed that the church had not addressed my particular concern.’ Our biggest challenge was to decide how to present issues about which class members disagreed.”
What emerged, he says, was an approach that did not gloss over differences but instead, involved helping each party present his or her view as clearly as possible so the audience would see what was at the heart of the disagreement. “Several students commented it was refreshing to see that although not everyone agreed on everything, the points of disagreement could be presented in a creative and thought-provoking way. The experience of combining serious academic research with genuine collaboration is something I think these students will benefit from for years to come,” he says.
In addition is the opportunity to build leadership skills, says Father Giampietro. “Leadership involves personal integrity, intellectual honesty, an ability to listen, and a willingness to move things in a direction that may be unpopular. UST provides an environment in which real dialogue can take place. There is a tremendous diversity on campus, and a tremendous respect for people who are different from oneself. The philosophy of the school includes the conviction that each person is of infinite worth, and should be respected accordingly,” he explains.
“However, not all opinions are equally valid. So while each person is respected, students are taught to think critically about views that are put forth. I think the combination of critical thinking, respect for one another and respect for perennial truths provides a great foundation for leadership in all areas of life,” he adds.
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