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Dean Aquila Honored at Conference
7/9/2007
 Dr. Dominic Aquila, dean of Arts and Sciences, has been honored with the prestigious Spes Nostra (Our Hope) award by the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools. Aquila received the award at the organization’s ninth annual conference in June where he presented the keynote address titled, “Catholic Education: The Last Best Hope for Democracy.”
The Spes Nostra award recognizes individuals who work to restore and preserve Catholic identity in Catholic education and who exemplify “Our Lady’s Hope.” Aquila implemented the first conference of the NAPCIS and has helped facilitate subsequent conferences.
“Dr. Aquila, very early on, recognized the exciting movement that was taking place in Catholic education in private, Catholic and independent schools,” Eileen Cubanski, executive director of NAPCIS said. “Today there are tens of dozens of these schools teaching the fullness of the truths of the Catholic faith.”
In his speech, Aquila discussed the integrated nature of Catholic education and its ability to provide students with an interrelated vision of their faith and the issues that affect the world. Specifically, he addressed the meaning of historian Christopher Lasch’s assertion that citizens’ values must be grounded in a strong tradition of faith in order for a democracy to function.
“Democracy requires its citizens to participate intelligently in the multifaceted issues that affect their lives,” Aquila said. “Such participation requires an ability to understand complex issues and their interrelation. Because Catholic education seeks to have students understand things in a holistic way, setting each discipline in relation to the other, Catholic students are well-prepared to understand the big picture as they participate in civic life.”
Aquila was appointed dean of the School of Arts and Sciences in June 2007. Prior to his appointment, he was the founding dean of the School of Liberal Arts at the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind. and has experience as an administrator and educator in history and business. Aquila also has a degree in music and has worked as manager of two New York Orchestras and a dance theater.
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