Congratulations to Daniel Bornstein
Professor Bornstein is a leading historian of religion in late-medieval and Renaissance Italy, of orthodox religious practice, and of the role of women in the Catholic Church. He is well-known in academic circles in this country, Italy, and France for his study of the history of religion, specifically his ability to question the nature of religious life within the context of the traditional church. Professor Bornstein has authored or edited three books/monographs with a fourth in process, in addition to numerous articles, book chapters, conference papers, and invited lectures. He has translated numerous medieval texts and is currently editing a volume on Medieval Christianity for a seven-volume project called _A People’s History of Christianity_, to be published in early 2008. Professor Bornstein’s research has attracted funding and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Philosophical Society, the National Humanities Center, among others.
At Texas A&M, Professor Bornstein was significantly involved in University life. He served as a member of Program Review Committees in both Religious Studies and Women’s Studies, as well as in several other capacities. He was a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee there. Professor Bornstein has served or is serving on committees or boards of a number of professional associations, including the American Society of Church History, the American Catholic Historical Association, and the Society for Italian Historical Studies. He sits on the editorial boards of _Rivista di Storia del Cristianesimo_ and _Medievalia et Humanistica_ and has reviewed manuscripts for many University presses and journals.
Interaction with students is critically important to Professor Bornstein. Just prior to moving to Washington University, he taught a course entitled “Film and Christianity.” Here, he has offered Topics in Christianity: Women and Religion in Medieval Europe; Christianity in Medieval Europe; Historical Methods: Saints and Society; and a seminar in Renaissance Florence and Venice. In 2003, Texas A&M University’s Association of Former Students honored Professor Bornstein with a College-level Distinguished Teaching Award. He regularly mentors undergraduate and graduate students.
Professor Bornstein received his B.A. from Oberlin College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He began his career at the University of Michigan, followed by an appointment at the University of California – San Diego and a long tenure at Texas A&M University, where he coordinated the Interdisciplinary Program in Religious Studies. The University of Milan (Italy), Central European University (Budapest, Hungary), and the University of California-Santa Barbara have all hosted Professor Bornstein during visiting professorships. He joins Arts & Sciences with a joint appointment in History and Religious Studies.
An alumna from the class of 1931, Stella Koetter Darrow was a native St. Louisan. She was a founding member of the Washington University Women’s Society and the Arts & Sciences Century Club as well as a member of the National Council for the University Libraries. A loyal and generous philanthropist, Ms. Darrow endowed a scholarship in the Washington University School of Medicine in memory of her father, who served as Chief of Oncology there in the early 1900’s. In addition, Ms. Darrow was part of a group that raised money to support and strengthen the Catholic Student Center on campus (the Newman Center). Her purposes in establishing this professorship in Arts & Sciences were to add to the intellectual life of the University; to broaden the University’s ability to educate students about the Roman Catholic Church; and through the professorship, to encourage students in their own pursuit of studies in Roman Catholic traditions.
