BUFFALO, NY – The fall series of the Joseph J. Naples Conversations in Christ and Culture Lecture Series at Canisius University continues Tuesday, November 19 when it welcomes author Michael Rizzi, EdD, to campus. Rizzi’s lecture, titled “An Americanized Jesuit Tradition of Education: Canisius’ Place in the Jesuit College Network,” takes place at 12:00 p.m. in the Regis Room of the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center and is free and open to the public.
Rizzi is the author of “Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the United States.” The book provides a comprehensive history of Jesuit higher education in the United States, weaving together the stories of the 54 colleges and universities that the Jesuits have operated, successfully and unsuccessfully, since 1789. In it, Rizzi emphasizes the connections among the institutions, exploring how certain Jesuit schools such as Georgetown University gave birth to others like Boston College by sharing faculty, financial resources, accreditation, and even presidents throughout their history. The book also explores how the colleges responded to common challenges including anti-Catholic prejudice in the United States, the push from government authorities to modernize their shared curriculum, and the pull from Roman authorities to remain loyal to Catholic tradition.
In addition to his book, Rizzi is the author of numerous articles on the history and mission of colleges and universities and on international relations. His work has appeared in America magazine, the Journal of Catholic Higher Education, the Newman Studies Journal, the Journal of Catholic Education, American Catholic Studies, the Journal of Church and State and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Rizzi’s research in this area has been cited in Supreme Court documents as well as academic journals and has been used in the strategic planning process at multiple universities.
He has more than 17 years of experience in higher education management and teaching and is currently director of student affairs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Rizzi holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, a master’s degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh, and a doctor of education from the University of Pittsburgh.
The Conversations in Christ and Culture Lecture Series is sponsored by the Canisius University Institute for the Global Study of Religion and the generosity of the ecumenical community of Western New York.
For more information on the series or the upcoming lecture, contact Philip Reed, PhD, professor of philosophy, at 716-888-2609 or at @email.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
