Villanova scholar to discuss ‘A Life Worth Loving’
Engaging and insightful, guest speaker Anna Moreland, Ph.D., of Villanova University, will discuss “A Life Worth Loving” during a free Feb. 19 symposium at 4 p.m. at the Mystical Rose Oratory on the Chaminade campus at 3140 Waialae Ave.
Co-authored by Dr. Thomas Smith from Catholic University of America, Daring to Live: A Guide to a Meaningful Life represents Dr. Moreland’s upcoming third book, which discusses the challenges that confront young adults in today’s world.
“I will provide an overview of my book,” wrote Moreland in an email message. “I’ll talk about three challenges that I find emerging adults face and three strategies to meet those challenges.”
In a previous campus lecture at Villanova, Moreland said the primary reason for writing the new book was to help “emerging” adults cross the threshold from late adolescence to young adulthood. She cited loneliness and choice paralysis as two “ingredients” that greatly impact students’ decision making, whether it be committing to a major or minor, or deciding which internships will benefit them most.
During her Marianist lecture, Moreland will offer strategies that will help young adults expand their imagination, build a better vocabulary, and recover habits and practices to live more fully and faithfully.
“I’ve given versions of [this lecture] to different audiences with much success,” Moreland said. “The truth is that this lecture is directed toward emerging adults and those who love them so, actually, it’s directed to everyone.”
Moreland is the Anne Quinn Welsh Endowed Chair of the University Honors Program and Professor in the Department of Humanities at Villanova University. She received her B.A. in Philosophy at the University of Maryland, College Park, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston College.
She will be presented with the Mackey Award for Catholic Thought, which is in honor of Marianist Father Robert Mackey, S.M., the first president of Chaminade University, and a once-important voice in the civic and religious community of Honolulu. The award recognizes scholarly, community and faith leaders whose work advances the spirit, charism and educational mission of the Society of Mary and the Marianist Family.
The Marianist Lecture is sponsored by the Marianist Center of Hawaii, Chaminade University and St. Louis School.