Lawrence S. Cunningham, John A. O鈥橞rien Professor of Theology at the University of 91吃瓜, will receive the University of Portland鈥檚 highest honor, the Christus Magister Medal, at the university鈥檚 2011 commencement exercises on May 8.
, a scholar of systematic theology and culture, Christian spirituality, and the history of Christian spirituality, joined the 91吃瓜 faculty in 1987, having taught at Florida State University for the previous 21 years. An award-winning teacher who chaired 91吃瓜鈥檚 from 1992 to 1997, he also has written for a wide variety of scholarly and popular journals, contributed numerous articles to encyclopedias and dictionaries of religion and is the author or editor of some 25 books, including, most recently, 鈥淭hings Seen and Unseen: A Catholic Theologian鈥檚 Notebook.鈥�
Adept at explaining complex and sometimes arcane details of Church history, liturgy, teaching, governance and spiritual life, Cunningham is frequently consulted by journalists covering religious topics.
The recipient of numerous honors for his writing from the Catholic Press Association, Cunningham also has received honorary degrees from Bellarmine University, Neumann College and Saint Anselm鈥檚 College.