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Belmont Abbey College Announces New Endowed Chair for Classical Education

Belmont, N.C. (May 7, 2024) – Belmont Abbey College announces the establishment of The Vilma György Pallos Endowed Chair in Classical Education, the first Endowed Chair in the college’s history and the first of ten endowed chairs it hopes to accomplish for the $150 million Made True capital campaign. Made possible by the generous support of Dr. and Mrs. Laszlo Pallos, this significant endowment will play a pivotal role in advancing the college’s commitment to classical education and fostering a new generation of educators.

The first appointee to The Vilma György Pallos Endowed Chair is Dr. Christine Boor ‘11, an alumna from Belmont Abbey College and currently an Honors College professor. Dr. Boor will oversee the development of the new Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education (MACLE) program, which aims to provide students with a strong formation in classical pedagogy, the Great Books, the liberal arts, and the Catholic intellectual tradition. “I am honored to continue my time at Belmont Abbey, building upon the foundation of Classical Education that began with the Honors College. I’m excited to witness the growth, accomplishments, and contributions of MACLE graduates for years to come.” This program will enlighten classical educators on the formation of their students in the moral, intellectual, and theological virtues.

Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Dean of the Honors College and Interim Provost, expressed his enthusiasm for the establishment of The Vilma György Pallos Endowed Chair and the new program, stating, “This chair and program will enable us to offer transformative riches to new generations of students. We are grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Pallos for their generous support and to Vilma Pallos for her inspiring legacy. Dr. Boor is a faithful advocate of classical education, and I am thrilled to watch her assume this role.”

This Endowed Chair will honor Laszlo’s late mother, Vilma Mária Pallos, née György, a survivor of both World War II and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Pallos and the legacy of Vilma Pallos, young professionals who share Vilma’s sacrificial dedication and love of education will gain the requisite skills to instruct and inspire others.

Belmont Abbey College welcomes its first cohort for the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education program in the Fall of 2024. Tailored for individuals deeply passionate about classical education, this degree aims to equip young professionals with the essential formation required to flourish as educators and administrators within the classical K-12 setting.

Endowed chairs like The Vilma György Pallos Chair in Classical Education are instrumental in maintaining and fortifying the expertise that supports the college’s core values. With Dr. Boor’s involvement, Belmont Abbey College will continue to shape the future of classical education and empower educators to make a lasting impact on their students.

For more information about the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education program, please visit here.

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Bolton

P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu

About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit https://belmontabbeycollege.edu/.

Belmont Abbey College Announces a New Graduate Degree in Classical and Liberal Education

Belmont, N.C. (December 5, 2023) – Today Belmont Abbey College announces the launch of a Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education. Through this degree, Belmont Abbey and its partner institutions will provide strong formation in classical pedagogy, the Great Books, the liberal arts, and the Christian and Catholic intellectual tradition. Intended for individuals with a passion for classical education, this degree program will enlighten classical educators on the formation of their students in the moral, intellectual, and theological virtues. In turn, these qualified educators will address the growing demand for classical liberal arts education coming from K-12 students and their parents.The college will welcome its first cohort for this new program in the Fall of 2024.

The new program aligns with Belmont Abbey’s mission to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences, so that God may be glorified in all things. Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Dean of the Honors College and Interim Provost, speaks to the need for this program. “At Belmont Abbey College, we believe in the development of the whole person—mind, body, and soul. During the undergraduate years, we help instill a foundation of critical thinking in our students so that they can go forth and lead virtuous lives. At the graduate level, individuals come to us with career and industry experience and a desire to lead. The new Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education takes this idea of educating the whole person and edifies educators on how to implement this approach so they can form future generations”, said Wysocki. Developed with administrators, educators, and non-profit leaders in mind, the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education follows an online, synchronous format with 30 credit hours required for graduation. This program is designed intentionally with a pathway for students to earn up to 12 graduate credits for prior learning through their completion of teaching apprenticeships at the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE) and the Center for Independent Research on Classical Education (CiRCE).

The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE), a robust supporter of Catholic educators, offers an attractive alternative to state teacher licensure. ICLE’s credential program prepares educators to infuse a deeply Catholic philosophy and practice of education into their teaching. “This new program at Belmont Abbey is a welcome opportunity for Catholic educators who seek to understand the Church’s long-standing tradition of education and apply that in their classrooms,” said Dr. Alyssan Barnes, Director of ICLE’s Credential Program. “It’s an excellent next step for many of our CEFC (Classic Educator Formation and Credential) graduates; our program introduces them to the great treasures of the Catholic intellectual tradition, and the M.A. in Classical and Liberal Education at Belmont Abbey will further deepen their intellectual formation.” The 18-month CEFC program contributes nine credit hours towards the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education and is delivered through in-person workshops and distance learning. The application period for ICLE’s credential program opens December 15, 2023. Click here to get more information on the program.

The CiRCE (Center for Independent Research on Classical Education) Institute provides inspiration, information, and insight to classical educators throughout the U.S. and Canada. The three-year Teaching Apprenticeship Program from the CiRCE Institute equips educators to understand the nature and principles of classical education and shows how to apply those principles in any classroom. “By partnering with Belmont Abbey College, we at The CiRCE Institute look forward to our Apprenticeship graduates being able to further develop the arts of truth perception with a trusted faculty. We are working toward the same end, toward the purpose of Christian classical education, which is the cultivation of human excellence”, says Andrea Lipinski, Vice-President of the CiRCE Institute. Students can pursue CiRCE’s Teaching Apprenticeship Program, accruing 12 credit hours, and pair it with the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education at Belmont Abbey. CiRCE is currently accepting registrations for the Teaching Apprenticeship Program. Register here.

Belmont Abbey College is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2024 semester while the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education is awaiting final approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Get program information and apply here.

Press Inquiry Contact: Julia Long, Director of Enrollment Marketing, julialong@bac.edu or 423-827-8727

Download the press release.