Lisle: (630) 829-6057
Mesa: (480) 878-7514
Toll Free: (877) 575-6050
Email: libref@ben.edu
Christine Fletcher is associate professor of theology at Benedictine University and an Oblate of St Procopius Abbey, Lisle, IL. At Benedictine she has designed a new Theology program which includes a certificate in Theology in Life. She holds a Masters in Politics and Philosophy from Oxford University and a PhD in Theology with subspecialties in Business ethics and literature from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England.
She has worked in various fields including merchant banking and IT consulting as well as having edited a magazine on business ethics. Among her academic presentations was a paper at a conference at the Vatican sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. While living in England she occasionally appeared on BBC1's Heaven and Earth discussing ethical questions.
She has been married to her husband Peter for 39 years, and they have four grown children.
Books
Peer-reviewed publications
Conference presentations
Book reviews
Other publications
Award winning author, Dr. Mardelle Fortier has won numerous poetry prizes, particularly through Poets and Patrons of Chicago. Dr. Fortier is the author of close to 100 published poems, 25 short stories, and 10 book reviews. Before her retirement, Dr. Fortier served an instructor in the Benedictine University Writing Program. She has also taught creative writing and composition at several Chicago area colleges.
Poetry
Fiction
Dr. George-Tvrtković is a historical theologian with expertise in medieval and contemporary Christian-Muslim relations. She has taught at Benedictine since 2009 and was previously associate director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. She has written two books—most recently, she published "Christians, Muslims and Mary: A History" (Paulist Press, 2018). In 2020, Dr. George-Tvrtković was appointed by Pope Francis to serve as consultor to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Books
Peer-reviewed articles
Chapters in books
Other articles
From LinkedIn: "I am a religion scholar and historian specializing in modern and contemporary religious thought. My most recent book is Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues (ABC-CLIO), with sections on Atheopaganism, LGBTQ+ humanists, and over 50 other topics. The distinctive shape of my work comes from a rich blend of international travel, participation in interfaith affairs, engagement as a public intellectual, and an academic career that has taken me to a variety of colleges and universities across the United States. I write on the history of modern religious thought, religious diversity in North American culture, and dialogue among world religions and contemporary forms of atheism, agnosticism, humanism, and secularity. The author or editor of seven books, I am a university administrator, professor, conference speaker, retreat leader, and media commentator."
Christine Isom-Verhaaren received a BA in History and an MLS from Brigham Young University and an MA and Ph.D in 1997 in Ottoman history from the University of Chicago, where she was a student of Halil Inalcik. She has been teaching Middle East history at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois since 2001. Dr. Isom-Verhaaren is the author of numerous journal articles (links posted in right column) and is currently writing The Sultan's Fleet, under contract with IB Tauris. She is editing with Kent F. Schull of SUNY Binghamton, Living in the Ottoman Realm: Creating, Contesting, and Resisting Ottoman Identity from the 15-20th Century.
Tim Marin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Physical Chemistry
Department Chair of Chemistry and Physics (2011-present)
BenU faculty since 2003
Ph.D. Northwestern University (2001)
M.S. Northwestern University (1997)
B.S. Benedictine University (1996)
Courses Taught: Classical Thermodynamics, Quantum and Statistical Mechanics, Molecular Dynamics and Kinetics, Physical Chemistry Laboratory, General Chemistry, General Chemistry Laboratory, Computational Modeling of Physical and Chemical Principles
Awards and Recognition: Benedictine University Distinguished Faculty Award for Research, 2009 College of Science Dean's Award for Research, 2008
Research Area: radiation chemistry, spectroscopy, photophysics, electron-transfer processes, chemical and physical properties of water
Dr. Joaquin Montero
Associate Professor
Department of Languages and Literature
Works in progress
Dr. James Pelech
Associate Professor
Department of Education
Visit his website to learn more.
Periodical articles
Dissertation
Benedictine University Nutrition instructor Jodie Shield, MED, RDN, LDN is the co-author (with Nutrition instructor, Mary Catherine Mullen, MS, RDN, LDN) of the book, Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight for Kids and Teens.
Ms. Shield is an active blogger and has been a noted consultant and spokesperson in the field of nutrition for three decades. A former national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, she is Founder and President of Healthy Eating for Families Inc., a nutrition communications consulting company based in Chicago.
She has authored over 300 consumer and professional articles, written and developed consumer education materials and programs, is currently a contributing editor for Food and Nutrition Magazine, and is the family nutrition expert for Sears Fit Studio.
Visit her website to learn more.
Sarah Blossom Ware was born to hippie parents in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1974. When she was three years old, she moved with her parents and two-year-old brother to the Ozark Foothills where she lived out her youth as an Arkansas hillbilly. Sarah has written a humorous yet true snapshot memoir entitled Hillbilly Justice on the School Bus documenting her childhood experiences.
Sarah received a doctorate degree in 2006 from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. She currently resides with her husband and four daughters in the Chicago area where she teaches in the Department of Biological Science at Benedictine University. (From Amazon Author Central)
Ovid K. Wong is currently an associate professor at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. He holds a joint appointment with the School of Education and the College of Science. He received his B.SC. and Dip.Ed from the University of Alberta in Canada, his M.Ed. from the University of Washington, Seattle, and his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Illinois. His experience in public education spans more than 20 years, from the urban classroom in Chicago to the suburban office of the assistant school superintendent.
In 1989, Dr. Wong received the National Science Foundation's Outstanding Science Teacher in Illinois award and the Science Teaching Achievement Recognition (STAR) award from the National Science Teachers Association. In the same year, he visited the former Soviet Union as the science delegation leader with the student ambassador program. He was the first recipient of the outstanding alumni award from the University of Alberta in 1992 and the first recipient of the distinguished alumni award from the College of Education at the University of Illinois in 1995.
In the summer of 2012, Dr. Wong was invited by the Department of Foreign Expert Affairs in China to train young faculty at Dalian Nationalities University.
He is the author of 28 books and had received the Midwest Book Author award from the Children's Reading Roundtable of Chicago. His recent books are dedicated to coaching teachers and students to effectively prepare for the state-mandated examination in Illinois and New York.
"As far as my writing goes, I graduated from San Francisco State with an MA in literary arts in 1976, which I believe is the Pleistocene Age. I've published two dozen or so poems mainly in literary magazines such as Prairie Schooner, Poetry East, Mississippi Valley Review, Tamaqua, Whetstone, Ascent, Spoon River Review and others. Poems are like photographs to me, freezing experiences to examine the details. I enjoy reading poems for the surprises they often offer. Everyone has stories and insights to share whether through sports, physics, dance, painting or any of the personal forms of expression. Poems have allowed me to say what I otherwise wouldn't have said."
Lisle
Kindlon Hall
5700 College Rd.
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 829-6050
Mesa
Gillett Hall
225 E. Main St.
Mesa, AZ 85201
(480) 878-7514