Professor, Yale University Divinity School
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
1990
Citation:
You have unselfishly committed yourself to a life of service to God and humankind as a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy. While doing so, you have also earned a national reputation as one of the most respected and widely published experts on ethics in the country. Since 1986, you have held the Gilbert L. Stark Chair in Christian Ethics at Yale University Divinity School. After graduating summa cum laude with a degree in English Literature from the University of Detroit, you earned a master's degree in Philosophy from U of D, a master's in Religious Studies from Yale University and a doctorate in Religious Studies, also from Yale. You taught in the Philosophy Department at Mercy College of Detroit as well as the University of Detroit before moving east to pursue your doctorate and to teach at Yale. Through the years, you have diligently and thoughtfully explored a wide variety of ethical issues, and have authored two books and numerous articles addressing the subjects of morality, women's issues, theology and equality. As an active participant in countless human rights and ethics organization, you continuously strive to promote a greater understanding of ethics in our changing society. Your professionalism and outstanding achievements have been recognized throughout the academic community with numerous fellowships, awards and honorary degrees. With admiration for your continued dedication to the study of ethics and to educational excellence, the University is proud to confer upon you the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Commencement, University of Detroit, May 12, 1990.