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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/.