معرفی
Dr. Jean Rioux serves as Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He earned his undergraduate degree from Thomas Aquinas College (1982), followed by a master’s and doctorate in philosophy at the University of St. Thomas (Center for Thomistic Studies). He emphasizes integrating primary sources and interdisciplinary approaches, inspired by his own liberal arts education. His work focuses on promoting St. Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy within philosophy curricula and fostering dialogue between faith and reason through collaborative courses with the Theology Department. Married to Maria (deWit ’84), they have nine children.
- Education:
- B.A., Thomas Aquinas College (1982)
- M.A., University of St. Thomas (Center for Thomistic Studies)
- Ph.D., University of St. Thomas (Center for Thomistic Studies)
His research interests include revitalizing the study of St. Thomas Aquinas across disciplines, particularly through great books-based interdisciplinary sequences. He has successfully tripled philosophy majors at Benedictine by prioritizing broad intellectual engagement over narrow specialization. Courses like the "Faith and Reason" sequence exemplify his commitment to connecting diverse fields through tutorial-style discussions driven by student inquiry.
No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text. His academic contributions focus on pedagogy and curriculum development rather than traditional research publications.
Dr. Rioux’s family life intertwines with his academic passion: two of his daughters transferred to Thomas Aquinas College, drawn by its seminar-style education, mirroring his own journey. His teaching philosophy emphasizes helping students "listen to and understand the universality of St. Thomas’ thought" through primary texts.
