Peter

Ellard

Academic Title

Director, Graduate Program in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction & Associate Professor of Practice

Research Interests
  • The Thought of Thomas Berry
  • Climate Change and Mindfulness
  • The School of Chartres
Education
  • Ph.D., Historical Theology, Fordham University
  • MA, Historical Theology, Fordham University
  • BA, Theology, Fordham University
  • Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, Institutes for Management Development, 2006
Areas of Expertise
  • Early and Medieval Christian Theology Spirituality
  • The Life and Writings of Thomas Berry
  • The School of Chartres
  • Religion & the Environment
  • Student Success & Retention
Recent Publications
Publications

The Sacred Cosmos: Theological, Philosophical, and Scientific Conversations in the Twelfth Century School of Chartres. Scranton, PA. University of Scranton Press, 2007.

“Not Green Enough: A Response to the Green Pope and the Green Patriarch Based on the Dark Green Thought of Thomas Berry”. In The International Journal of Environmental Studies. Volume 69, Issue 3, June 2012, 524-539.

“Preparing and Adapting our Campuses for the Effects of Climate Change”, with Kori Swieter. In Planning for Higher Education. Volume, 44 Number 1, October -December, 2015.

“Exposing the Roots and Healing the Wounds of Religiously Sanctioned Violence”. In Ruminations on Violence. Derek Pardue, ed. Long Grove, Il.: Waveland Press, 2008.

“The Thought of Thomas Berry as the Groundwork for a Dark Green Catholic Theology”. In Confronting the Climate Crisis: Catholic Theological Perspectives. Jame Shaefer, ed. Marquette Wisconsin: Marquette University Press, 2011.

“Thomas Berry’s Challenge: Recognizing the Great Self in the Great Work”. In Living Cosmology: Christian Responses to Journey of the Universe. Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, ed. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2016.

“Building a Proactive Retention Plan for At-Risk Student: Siena’s Early Warning and Retention Team (SEWART)” National Symposium on Student Retention, Norfolk, VA, November 2, 2017. Also published in the proceedings of the Symposium, 67-78.

Higher Education & Public Media

“Don’t Think Your Campus Needs to Prepare for Climate Change?: Here’s Why You’re Wrong”. Chronicle of Higher Education. May 3, 2019, B36-37.

WAMC Radio Discussing the MLK Lecture Series (aired 1/26/09)

Troy Record News: On Siena’s STOP Conference (1/23/10)

The Daily Gazette: Students study example set by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ( 1/14/11)

Saratogian News: On the Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI( 2/11/13)

Christian Science Monitor: Pope Francis signals remarkable shift in priorities for Catholics ( 9/19/13)

Times Union: Large, small voices of joy: Pope Francis excites children new to faith, draws praise from Albany bishop, fellow Argentines ( 3/13/13)

USA Today: Hollywood finds religion and profits at theaters ( 3/27/14)

Christian Science Monitor: America becoming less Christian, says study. Will that hurt the Republican Party? (5/12/15)

The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Will Pope’s Political Messages Sway Congress?

 

Honors and Awards
  • Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate, National Resource Center for First-Year Student Advocate 2014
  • Lecturer of the Year, Student Senate, Siena College, 2013
  • Administrator of the Year, Student Senate, Siena College, 2012
  • Lecturer of the Year, Student Senate, Siena College, 2011
  • Administrator of the Year, Student Senate, Siena College, 2004
  • Outstanding Service to Students with Disabilities Award, Siena College, 2001
  • Twice invited by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to take part in Symposia – in Greece and Turkey