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2006 winner of Aquinas Center Award announced
June 14, 2006
Ave Maria University's Aquinas Center for Theological Renewal was pleased to announce the 2006 winner of the St. Thomas Aquinas Dissertation Prize: Dr. Roger W. Nutt. He was selected for his dissertation, "Christus Sacerdos et Mediator: Thomistic Christology and Vatican II's Call for Theological Renewal," which examined the ways in which the Second Vatican Council's integrated vision of theology was drawn from the sacra doctrina of Thomas Aquinas.
"Professor Nutt has placed his finger on the key issue: the power and sufficiency of Christ's priestly mediation," said Dr. Matthew Levering, cofounder of the Aquinas Center and associate professor theology at AMU.
According to Levering, Nutt's study of Thomas Aquinas explored the understanding of Christ as priest and mediator.
"Once we understand that Christ is the true priest who takes away our sins and constitutes the ‘bridge'-a bridge of love-to the Father, we recognize that all aspects of our lives gain their permanent meaning in relation to Christ," Levering explained.
The Aquinas Center's annual Dissertation Prize honors the doctoral dissertation that best exemplifies the thought of Thomas Aquinas in contemporary theology, philosophy or biblical studies. Candidates for this prize are dissertations, in any language, defended in that calendar year. In addition to the honor of the dissertation prize, the recipient receives $250 and an invitation to deliver the Nova et Vetera Lecture at Ave Maria University during the fall of the year.
Nutt is currently teaching at Aquinas College in Nashville, Tenn. He received a master's degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville and continued his education at the Angelicum in Rome, where he received S.T.B., S.T.L., and S.T.D. degrees.
Nutt visited AMU on June 2, 2006 to receive the Dissertation Prize. After Nutt's visit Levering noted, "Professor Nutt's clear way of communicating the centrality of Christ's mediation for all aspects of our lives will make a profound impact for the good upon the students whose lives he touches."
- Theresa Barbale