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Collegium Leadership

Every person who serves on the Board or as a member of the faculty or staff must:​

  • be a practicing traditional Catholic,
  • be committed to the traditional mission of The Collegium,
  • sign the Oath Against Modernism and the Oath of Fidelity.
church service

Oath Against Modernism

The Oath Against Modernism was was instituted on 1 September 1910 by Pope Pius X in his motu proprio “Sacrorum antistitum.” It was required of “all clergy, pastors, confessors, preachers, religious superiors, and professors in philosophical-theological seminaries” of the Catholic Church from 1910 until 17 July 1967, when it was rescinded by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with the approval of Pope Paul VI.

At the Collegium, it is critical that every person who works for the institution, every person who attends the institution, and every parent who is sending a student to the institution is fully committed to the institution’s mission. The Oath Against Modernism is, to our knowledge, the clearest expression of the essential, unchanging tenets of the Catholic faith and the strongest form of commitment to these tenets, which are perennially taught by the Catholic Church, and which are at the heart of our mission. Thus, we ask every faculty member, staff member, student, and parent of a student to sign this oath in order to work at, attend, or have a child attend The Collegium.

Administration and Faculty

Edward Schaefer

Edward Schaefer

President and Faculty
  • DMA from The Catholic University of America
  • 39 years of teaching and administration in higher education
  • Expertise in music theory, choral music, and Carolingian chant
  • Has directed scholas and choirs singing beautiful music for four decades
  • Phillip Berns

    Phillip Berns

    Academic Dean and Faculty
  • MA in Philosophy from Tulane University
  • MTS from Notre Dame Seminary
  • PhD in Philosophy forthcoming from University of St. Thomas, Houston
  • Expertise in Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Philosophy of Economics
  • Experience teaching Theology and Philosophy, and singing in and directing scholas
  • William Stover

    William Stover

    Dean of Men, Director of Admissions, Faculty
  • MA in Classical Philology from the University of Virginia
  • MA in Classics from the University of Notre Dame
  • Expertise in Ancient Historiography, Cultural Perception in the Ancient World, Greek and Latin Philology, Paleography and Codicology
  • Experience in Student Activities
  • Dana Rissley

    Dana Rissley

    CFO and CBO
  • MBA from University of Cape Town, South Africa
  • CPA
  • Experience as Financial Director for Amsted Rail and as Financial Controller for IONX
  • Karen Schaefer

    Karen Schaefer

    Office Manager, Accompanist, Women's Residence Hall Advisor
  • Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy, Southern Methodist University
  • 40 years of experience teaching piano
  • 50 years of experience as a collaborative pianist
  • staff placeholder girl

    Ginna Pannence-Acevedo

    Dean of Women, Faculty
  • MA in Philosophy from University of Dallas
  • PhD in Philosophy forthcoming from University of St. Thomas, Houston
  • Contact: pennanceacevedo@gmail.com or 787-467-2774
  • giordano cuatto

    Giordano Cuatto

    Faculty
  • MA in Classical Studies from University of Wales, Trinity-St. David
  • Master Diploma in Latin from University of Kentucky, Institute for Latin Studies
  • Contact: gcuatto@the-collegium.org or 240-591-0020
  • Interview With Ed Schaefer

    Endorsement

    Why The Liberal Arts Matters

    There are two good reasons:

    1. If we are engaged in a “classical” curriculum that focuses academically on writers such as St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other Fathers and Doctors of the Church, then it only makes sense that the spiritual life of The Collegium is centered around the “classical” Mass, that is, the Mass that shaped the faith and spiritually of the writers we study.
    2. More importantly, Pew Foundation studies reveal that among young Catholic adults (ages 18-32), less than 20% attend Mass regularly. One study puts the number as low as 7%! However, another study by Rev. Kloster shows that among the same age group, young Catholic adults who attend the so-called traditional Latin Mass (TLM), regular Mass attendance is at 98%. That is 98% vs 20% or even 7%. Based on these studies, if staying close to the Church, Mass, and the Sacraments is important, then tradition is a clear choice. Many parents think that because their children were raised well, they will not succumb to the temptations and pressures placed upon them in college. Perhaps, but the data say otherwise. We are here to help support and continue the work of parents in strengthening the faith in our students. Tradition is an obvious choice in this endeavor.

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