معرفی
Professor Ron Carstens serves in the Department of History, Political Science, and Criminal Justice at Ohio Dominican University, where he has taught since 1974 after earning his doctorate. Achieving full professorship with tenure in 1985, he has held significant leadership roles including Director of the Humanities Program (1976-1988, 1995-present), Department Chair (1990-1993), and founding Dean of the School of Graduate Studies (2002).
His educational credentials include:
- Ph.D. in Political Philosophy from Miami University
- M.A. in Political Science from Miami University
- B.A. in Political Science from St. Ambrose College (cum laude, 1969)
- B.A. in Philosophy from St. Ambrose College (cum laude, 1969)
Carstens' research centers on Political Philosophy and Constitutionalism, examining intersections of faith, reason, and political order through Thomistic philosophy. His seminal dissertation "The Notion of Obligation in the Political Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas" established his expertise in classical political thought, expanded in works like "Antecedents of Constitutionalism" and "Notes on Humanity: Faith, Reason and Order" which bridge medieval philosophy with modern governance.
His academic excellence is recognized through multiple teaching honors: Outstanding Teacher (1990), Dominican Master Faculty (1994), Dominican Professor (2011), and the student-elected Conley Award for Outstanding Teaching.
Beyond teaching, Carstens served as Special Assistant for Curriculum (2003-2004) and represented Ohio Dominican on the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Administrative Board (1980-1986), chairing it from 1984-1986. He remains active as a Columbus Museum of Art docent and former President of St. Joseph Montessori School's Board of Trustees.
