Alexandre A. Martins

Alexandre A. Martins is an Associate Professor in the Theology Department at Marquette University and holds a joint appointment in the College of Nursing. He is the Director of Undergraduate Studies and holds the William J. Kelly, S.J., Chair in Theology (2023–2026). A Brazilian theologian and bioethicist, his work bridges theology, ethics, and global health through the lens of liberation theology and Catholic social teaching.

Education

• Ph.D. in Theology, Marquette University (2017)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Coimbra, Portugal (2019)

Research Interests

Martins specializes in health care ethics, social ethics, and liberation theology, with a strong focus on global and public health. His scholarship is deeply interdisciplinary, engaging with anthropology, philosophy, epidemiology, and medical science. He is particularly committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and developing ethical frameworks that prioritize the poor and underserved. His work also includes a philosophical focus on the French thinker Simone Weil, especially her contributions to justice and rootedness.

Publications Overview

Martins has published extensively, including books such as Christology and Global Ethics (2023), The Cry of the Poor (2020), and A Pobreza e a Graça (2013). His recent articles span topics from participatory bioethics and epistemic justice to global health policy and liberation ethics. His work is published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and appears in leading journals such as Religions, National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, and Concilium.

Leadership & Service

• Regional Coordinator for Latin America and Caribbean, Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church (CTEWC)
• Vice-President, Brazilian Society of Moral Theology (SBTM)
• Member, Academic Committee, International Association of Catholic Bioethics
• Ethics Committee, Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, Milwaukee
• Project Lead, Polis & Hope

Global Engagement

Martins has served as a visiting scholar at institutions such as Saint Camillus University in São Paulo and Camillianum in Rome. He has led humanitarian and academic projects in Brazil, Bolivia, Haiti, and Uganda, focusing on community health, universal health care advocacy, and Catholic social values.