About Us

Faculty

 

Walking in Snow

The character, strength, and integrity of a student‘s learning depend primarily upon the wisdom found in the sequences of readings. However, the sequences of readings would remain lifeless for a student without certain animating qualities in the tutors: a love of students, an enthusiasm for learning, a zeal for uncovering the integration found in nature, a commitment to intellectual excellence, and a humble yet fearless mind.


The tutors are teaching members of a unique collegial community firmly committed to both tutoring and learning from each other. For this reason, the title "tutor" is used in the Program of Studies and the title "professor" is intentionally avoided. The tutors are neither specialists nor researchers, and it is not their function to expound to the students in the tutorials the doctrines of their own field of professional expertise or the opinions that capture their personal interest.


In each class, the tutors assume that the students are prepared for a dialogue with the principal teacher in the tutorial – it might be Galileo or Lobachevski, Pascal or Descartes, Dante or Cervantes. The tutor‘s specific responsibility in the tutorial is to contribute toward each student‘s understanding of the author‘s position, to raise questions about the reading, to unmask opinions, and to lead the students to a meeting place between the principles discovered and the relationship that these principles have both to themselves and to their lives.



George N. Stanciu, Acting Academic Dean

Ph.D., Theoretical Physics, University of Michigan

  • Biography

    • George Stanciu, born in Pontiac, Michigan, attended the University of Michigan, where he earned degrees in Theoretical Physics: B.A. (1958); M.A. (1960); Ph.D. (1964). From 1964–1965, Dr. Stanciu was a Visiting Scientist at the Catholic University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and from 1965–1968, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory. From 1968–1974, he was a Tutor at St. John‘s College (Santa Fe, NM), where he taught Great Books seminars, mathematics, astronomy, and physics. In 1974, Dr. Stanciu was the first Tutor hired by Magdalen College in 1974; he was the Academic Dean from 1975 to 2001. After 2001, Dr. Stanciu continued at the College as the Academic Dean Emeritus. Dr. Stanciu has written numerous scientific papers and co–authored two books, The New Story of Science and The New Biology. He has three grown children: two daughters and a son.



Rev. Father Robert R. Tumwekwase A. J., Tutor

Ph.D., Sacred Theology, Catholic University of Eastern Africa

  • Biography

    • Father Robert Tumwekwase was born in Uganda and was ordained to the priesthood in 1988 in Uganda. He attended the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, where he earned degrees in Sacred Theology: Licentiate (1995); Post–Graduate Diploma (1996); Ph.D. (2005). He has served as the Assistant Pastor at Giryama Catholic Parish, St. Theresa‘s Catholic Parish, and the Kakuma Refugees Camp in Kenya. From 1997–2000 he was the Rector and a teacher at St. Bakhita Formation Center in the Sudan. In 2000 he began lecturing at the Catholic University of Africa in Nairobi until 2005. In 2006, Father Robert became a Tutor and Assistant Chaplain at Magdalen College.



Michael H. Storck, Tutor, mstorck@magdalen.edu

Ph.D., Philosophy, Catholic University of America

  • Biography

    • Michael Storck was born in Denham Springs, Louisiana and grew up in Maryland. Michael earned his B.A. from Christendom College. He continued his studies in Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, where he graduated with a Ph.D. in 2006. He lives in Warner with his wife Colby, and three children.



Cynthia R. Nicolosi, Tutor, cnicolosi@magdalen.edu

Candidate Ph.D., Philosophy, Pontifical University of Holy Cross; License in Philosophy, Pontifical University of Holy Cross; BTS, Theology, Pontifical University of Holy Cross; M.A., Philosophy, Boston College

  • Biography

    • Cynthia Nicolosi was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She received a B.A. from Magdalen College (1985) and an M.A. in Philosophy from Boston College (1990). From 1985–1993, Miss Nicolosi worked as tutor and choir director at Magdalen College. During that time, she attended the Latin Workshop in Berkeley and completed all coursework and exams for the M.A. in Music History at Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, California. In 1994 Miss Nicolosi began a ten–year sabbatical in Europe which included studies at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. She earned a B.T.S (1999) and a License in Philosophy (2003). Miss Nicolosi is currently a doctoral candidate; her dissertation concerns St. Thomas Aquinas‘s use of narrative in the Expositio super Job ad litteram. During her years in Europe, Miss Nicolosi also taught English for several language institutes. In 1999, she began a freelance career as writer, translator, and book editor; she has contributed to a wide array of projects, from biographies to novels. In 2005, Miss Nicolosi completed a translation from Italian to English of Professor Aldo Vendemiati‘s First Person Ethics. Her translations also appear in the online Interdisciplinary Encyclopedia of Religion and Science. Miss Nicolosi has lived in Italy, France, Denmark, and Ireland. Her experiences abroad have strengthened her conviction that the Magdalen College program is the best preparation for study, work, and a happy life.



John C. Klucinec, Tutor and Faculty Administrator, jklucinec@magdalen.edu

M.A., Education Administration, Boston College

  • Biography

    • John Klucinec, born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attended Magdalen College, where he earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts (1990); he then earned a M.A. in Educational Administration from Boston College (1996). From that time to the present, he has been a Tutor at Magdalen College, and currently serves as Faculty Administrator. With his wife Joan and children, he resides in Warner, NH.

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Mark J. Gillis, Tutor and Catechesis Coordinator, mgillis@magdalen.edu

M.A., Education Administration, Boston College; Candidate M.A. Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas

  • Biography

    • Mark Gillis, born in Medford, Massachusetts, attended Magdalen College, where he earned his B.A. in Liberal Arts in 1990. He began working at Magdalen College in 1990 as a Tutor. While he was working at the College he earned his M.A. in Education from Boston College in 1994. He is also a candidate for a M.A. Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN. In 1994 he studied Latin in Rome under the Vatican Latinist Father Reginald Foster. In 1997, he founded the Don Bosco Boys Camp in Concord, NH which he has directed each summer since then. In 2006, he began teaching for the "Called to Discipleship" program for the Diocese of Manchester. He and his wife Catherine live in Concord, NH with their three children.



J. Thomas Pendergast, Tutor, tpendergast@magdalen.edu

M.A., Integrated Studies, Notre Dame College

  • Biography

    • Thomas Pendergast, native of Troy, New York, earned his B.A. Liberal Arts at Magdalen College in 1993. He began his internship for tutoring at the College in 1994. While working at the College, he earned his M.A. in Education from Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH (1999). He has studied Gregorian Chant theory and practice both in Italy (2000) and at St. Joseph‘s College in Rensselaer, IN (2005). He has also studied choral conducting at Plymouth State College, NH (1999), and Latin with Vatican Latinist Father Reginald Foster in Rome (1994). After completing his internship Mr. Pendergast was appointed as a Tutor in 2001. He has been directing the Choir at Magdalen College since 1998.



Karl A. Jackson, Interim Tutor, kjackson@magdalen.edu

B.A., Liberal Studies, Magdalen College

  • Biography

    • Karl Jackson, born in Kingston, Ontario Canada, attended Magdalen College, where he earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts in 2000. In 2000 became the Residence Life Director at Magdalen College, and from 2000–2001, he taught junior high school science at Holy Family Academy in Manchester, NH. In 2002, Mr. Jackson became an Interim Tutor at Magdalen College. In 2006, he was appointed Dean of Students and continues to tutor. He is married to Ellen (Maher '00) and has two children, a son and daughter.



Daniel J. Regan, Intern Tutor

Candidate M.A., Philosophy, Holy Cross Seminary

  • Biography

    • Dan Regan attended Magdalen College and earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts in 2002. He began working at the College in 2002 as an Admissions Counselor. In 2006, Mr. Regan became an Intern Tutor and the Liturgical Life Coordinator. He and his wife Liza (Regan '02) live in Warner with their two sons.



Rev. Father Cassian Folsom O.S.B., Adjunct Tutor

M.A., Divinity, Saint Meinrad School of Theology; M.A., Religious Studies, Indiana University

  • Biography

    • Father Cassian Folsom is a native of Lynn, Massachusetts. He professed his vows as a Benedictine monk on August 6, 1980, and was ordained a priest on April 29, 1984. He earned a bachelor‘s degree in English from Saint Meinrad College in 1977 and a Master of Divinity degree in 1984 from Saint Meinrad School of Theology. Other degrees include a M.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University in 1981 and advanced degrees in Sacred Liturgy from San Anselmo, Rome, in 1989. From 1989–93, Fr. Cassian served as choirmaster for the monastery. He taught sacramental theology at Saint Meinrad School of Theology from 1989–92. In 1993, he began teaching at Pontificio Instituto Liturgico in Rome; he served as the institute‘s acting president from 1997–2000. In 1999, Fr. Cassian became the prior of a monastic community that, in 2000, was moved to Norcia, Italy, the birthplace of St. Benedict. He continues as the prior of that community today.



Timothy C. Frazer, Adjunct Tutor

Ph.D., English Language and Literature, University of Chicago

  • Biography

  • Neil M. Gillis, Adjunct Tutor

    M.A., Political Science, Boston College

    • Timothy Frazer attended Western Illinois University where he earned his B.S. in Education in 1967. He then attended the University of Chicago, where he earned degrees in Education: English Language and Literature: M.A. (1967) and Ph.D. (1973). From 1969–1971 he was an instructor at Millikin University and from 1972–2002 was an English professor at Western Illinois University. From 2003–2005 he worked as an ESL Instructor at Lincolnland Community College. Dr. Frazer has published numerous books, papers, articles, and reviews.