Staff

• Ph.D., Historical Theology, Fordham University
• MA, Historical Theology, Fordham University
• BA, Theology, Fordham University

Dr. Peter Ellard has been teaching for thirty years. For the last eighteen of these years, he has served in various leadership roles in academic affairs.

Dr. Ellard believes that colleges and universities can do more to help students succeed. He knows that change can come by inspiring both students and staff while seeking the well-being of all. Dr. Ellard leads by stressing compassion, understanding, positivity, openness, and support. He knows that it takes a village. He believes that both teaching and leadership in service to others should lead to fulfillment, gratitude and a sense of deep community.

His interests are wide – ranging from the medieval world & the School of Chartres, to mindfulness & mysticism, to environmental ethics & climate change, and the life & works of Thomas Berry. His scholarship spans a wide breadth of topics. His first book was The Sacred Cosmos: Theological, Philosophical, and Scientific Conversations in the Twelfth Century School of Chartres (2007). He has published articles, book chapters and book reviews, and he has lectured widely on many topics.

Dr. Ellard has worked at Merrimack College for seven years and has taught courses in Religious Studies, Philosophy, Environmental Studies and Freshmen Seminar. He previously served as Dean and Vice President at Merrimack where he created many student success programs including: The Promise Program, The Drive Program, The Dean’s Forum, Pioneer Scholars Program, The Activate Program and the Study Partners Program.

While at Siena College, he was named Lecturer of the Year (2011 and 2013) and Administrator of the Year (2004 and 2012).

He has twice been invited by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to take part in Symposia – in Greece and Turkey – and, while at Siena College, led the Advisory Board, made of local community leaders, of the prestigious Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series on Race and Nonviolent Social Change.

Fun Notes:

• He bleeds maroon as all three of his degrees are from Fordham University – where he also was on the NCAA Div I Swimming Team and Water Polo Team.
• During and after College he was a practicing musician, singer songwriter – before You-Tube : ) – and, in the late 1980s and early 90s, played in famed venues in NYC such as Folk City, The Speak Easy, The Sun Mountain Cafe and OMFUG at CBGBs.
• He was a Lifeguard for 19 years – including five years on the beaches of Coney Island, NY.
• He hosts a radio show on MerrimackCollege Radio Station WMCK.
• He resides in New Hampshire with his wife Amy. They have two children Olivia and Holden – and a dog and three cats.
• You can read more about his research and other interests at https://sites.google.com/a/merrimack.edu/peter-ellard