Mara Brecht

Mara Brecht is an Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College. She previously served as the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Chair in Religious Education at the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, and the Research Associate of St. Norbert College. Mara received her baccalaureate from Oberlin College, a master's in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, and a doctorate in systematic theology from Fordham University. She's currently working on two big projects--one explores the unspoken racial dynamics of Christian engagement with religious diversity, especially in Catholic educational contexts and the second project explores how charisms transmission from religious communities to lay faculty at Catholic colleges and university. Though these projects may seem far afield from each other, they're both really about what Mara's most interested in: How to renew Catholic thinking in and through a historical moment of rich diversity. Above all, Mara loves being in the classroom and in conversation with students. When she's not doing academic stuff, she's trying to not be totally exhausted by her toddler and baby.