Tracey Rowland

Professor Tracey Rowland holds the St John Paul II Chair of Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney Campus, within the School of Philosophy & Theology. She is a leading figure in Catholic theology, with a distinguished international reputation in theological anthropology, political philosophy, and the thought of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI). Her work bridges theology, philosophy, and cultural critique, with a special focus on German Catholic intellectual traditions.

• BA(Hons), LLB (Queensland)
• B.Litt, MA, Grad. Dip. Mod. Lang. (Melbourne)
• PhD (Cambridge)
• STL, STD (Lateran)
• Dip. Ed. Stud. (London)

Her research interests include theological anthropology, political philosophy (Catholic, Marxist, liberal), philosophy and theology of culture, German Catholic thought in the 20th century, and theories of secularisation. She has published extensively on Joseph Ratzinger, cultural theory, and ecclesiology, contributing to major academic presses and journals.

Professor Rowland’s recent scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on Ratzinger’s theology, the crisis of modernity, ressourcement theology, and the interplay between faith, culture, and politics. Her articles span journals such as Communio, The Thomist, and Nova et Vetera, reflecting deep engagement with Catholic intellectual tradition and contemporary theological debates.

• Ratzinger Prize for Theology (2020)
• Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2010)
• Archbishop Michael J Miller Award (2009)
• Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, Christendom College (2024)

She has successfully supervised nine doctoral students and numerous Master’s and Honours projects. She is a member of the editorial board of Communio: International Catholic Review and was appointed to the Pontifical Academy of the Social Sciences in 2023. Her work is supported by deep ecclesial engagement, including roles in theological commissions and Catholic intellectual organizations. She is also involved in community initiatives such as the Mary Glowrey Trust and Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy.