Amy L. Cavender, CSC
Education
PhD, Government and International Studies, May 1998
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
Dissertation: “The Appropriate Place of Religion in American Politics: A Critical Examination of John Rawls and Michael J. Perry.”
Director: L. John Roos
Comprehensive and candidacy exams: Political Theory (Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, American), International Relations
MA, Government and International Studies, January 1993
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
Thesis: “James Davison Hunter, Jacques Maritain, and America’s ‘Culture Wars’”
Director: L. John Roos
BA magna cum laude, Political Science, Spanish, May 1990
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota
Thesis: “The Divided Nicaraguan Catholic Church: Reasons for the Split”
Director: Norman V. Walbek
Research interests
Liberalism and Religion
Religious Pluralism in American Politics
Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue
Christian Political Thought
Social Ethics
Teaching areas
Political Theory
American Government
Religion and Politics
Political Issues of Africa
International Relations
Teaching experience
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. August 2006-present.
Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. August 2004-August 2006.
Visiting Lecturer in Social Science and Philosophy, Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre Jinja, Jinja, Uganda. January 2003-May 2004.
Adjunct Instructor of Government, Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, Indiana. August 1997-May 2000.
Adjunct Instructor of Political Science, Indiana University South Bend, South Bend, Indiana. August 1997-August 1998.
Graduate Teaching Fellow, Freshman Writing Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, August 1995-May 1996.
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Government and International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana. Spring 1995.
Teaching Assistant in Political Theory, Department of Government and International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana. Fall 1991, Spring 1992, Fall 1993.
Courses taught
Catholic Social and Political Thought (Saint Mary’s College)
The Quest for Human Rights (Saint Mary’s College)
Politics of American Democracy (Saint Mary’s College)
Political Issues (Saint Mary’s College)
Political Issues—writing intensive (Saint Mary’s College)
Religion and Politics (Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre Jinja, Saint Mary’s College)
Plato’s Political Writings (Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre Jinja)
Contemporary Political Issues of Africa (Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre Jinja)
Library Research Methods (Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre Jinja)
Introduction to Political Philosophy (Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre Jinja, Holy Cross College)
Introduction to International Relations (Holy Cross College)
Introduction to American Government (Holy Cross College, Indiana University South Bend)
American Political Thought (Holy Cross College, Saint Mary’s College)
College Success Strategies (Holy Cross College)
Religious Diversity and American Politics (University of Notre Dame)
Religion in American Political Thought (University of Notre Dame)
Publications and conferences
Review of Lucas Swaine’s The Liberal Conscience: Politics and Principle in a World of Religious Pluralism. Journal of Church and State, vol. 48, no. 4 (Autumn 2006): 871-872.
“Ecumenical Religious Dialogue: A Model for Ecumenical Political Dialogue?” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, September 2006.
“What Does the Field of Ecumenical Religious Dialogue Have to Teach Us About Ecumenical Political Dialogue?” Presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Meeting, April 2005.
Chair, Politics and Religion section panel, “Faith-Based Groups in Politics and Policy,” Midwest Political Science Association meeting, April 2005.
“Jacques Maritain and the Problem of Education in a Pluralistic Democratic Society.” Presented at a poster session of the American Political Science Association meeting, August 2002.
Chair, Political Theory section panel, “Problems of the Liberal Polity,” Western Political Science Association meeting, March 2002.
“Transcending Hobbes.” Review of Christopher Beem’s Pluralism and Consensus: Conceptions of the Good in the American Polity. Review of Politics, vol. 61, no. 4 (Fall 1999): 737-739.
“Hobbes by Default.” Review of Patrick Neal’s Liberalism and its Discontents. Review of Politics, vol. 60, no. 3 (Summer 1998): 577-579.
“From FEPC to the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Public Reason and Paradigm Shift.” Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting, April 1998.
“A Model of Change in the Political Conception of Justice.” Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting, April 1997.
“The Limits and Possibilities of Public Reason.” Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting, April 1996.
“Undermining Support for Liberal Values: John Rawls and Comprehensive Doctrines.” Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting, April 1995.
Other academic experience and service
Chair, Faculty Affairs Committee, Saint Mary’s College. August 2005-present.
Co-coordinator, untenured faculty group, Saint Mary’s College. August 2006-present.
Member, Justice Education Committee, Saint Mary’s College. January 2006-present.
Member, Community Connections Advisory Committee, Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership, Saint Mary’s College. August 2005-present.
Center for Women’s InterCultural Leadership, Saint Mary’s College. January 2005-August 2006. Assisted in directing the Compassionate Listening group on campus, and coordinated the Compassionate Listening workshop held on campus from March 26-28, 2006.
Academic Adviser, Holy Cross College. August 1998-May 2000.
Assistant Book Review Editor, Review of Politics. August 1997-July 1999.
Vice-chair, Faculty Forum, Holy Cross College. August 1999-May 2000.
Social Science Division representative to the Faculty Development Committee, Holy Cross College, September 1998-August 1999.
Member, External Relations Operational Planning Group, Holy Cross College. August 1998-August 1999.
Member, Information Technology Operational Planning Group, Holy Cross College. August 1998-August 1999.
Grant writer, Holy Cross College. Was the principal writer of four grant proposals for the College. Duties included chairing a committee that developed an intensive college preparatory program. Summer 1998.
Member, Information Technology Committee, Holy Cross College. August 1997-August 1998.
Assistant to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Department of Government and International Studies, University of Notre Dame. Assisted in advising undergraduate majors in the department. Fall 1996.
Research assistant for Professor Sharon O’Brien, University of Notre Dame. Did biographical research on Supreme Court Justices who authored opinions on significant cases involving Native American rights. Spring 1994.
Editorial intern, Review of Politics. Reviewed incoming manuscripts for possible publication. September 1992-August 1993.
Member, executive committee, Government Graduate Organization (departmental graduate student organization), University of Notre Dame. August 1991-May 1992.
Member of committee to revise the Government Department’s graduate program requirements, University of Notre Dame. Fall 1991.
Other presentations
Panelist for Saint Mary’s College Heritage Week event: “Where is the Love?: Finding Hope in the Service of Others.” January 25, 2007.
Guest speaker for Constitution Day, St. Joseph High School, South Bend, Indiana. September 20, 2006.
Fellowships and honors
University of Notre Dame. Graduate Teaching Fellowship. August 1995-May 1996.
University of Notre Dame. Departmental dissertation fellowship. Fall 1994.
Collegium Institute on Faith and Intellectual Life. Graduate fellowship. June 4-12, 1993.
University of Notre Dame. Departmental first-year fellowship. August 1990- May 1991.
Gustavus Adolphus College. Phi Beta Kappa. April 1990.
Gustavus Adolphus College. Pi Sigma Alpha. May 1989.
Gustavus Adolphus College. Partners in Scholarship award. August 1986-May 1990.
Language competency
Reading knowledge: Spanish, German, French, Latin
Speaking ability: Spanish
Professional memberships
American Political Science Association
Christians in Political Science
New Voices Seminar
Additional experience
Campus Minister, Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School, Wanyange, Jinja, Uganda. Co-directed the religious education program, coordinated readers for Sunday liturgies, and edited the Campus Ministry newsletter. November 2002-December 2003.
Mathematics teacher, Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School, Wanyange, Jinja, Uganda. February-May 2003.
Intern, Jubilee USA Network, Washington, D.C. Did research on the impact of World Bank and IMF policies on developing countries. January-February 2002.
Volunteer tutor, A Place Called Home, Los Angeles, California. Worked with disadvantaged youth at the grade school and high school levels. Fall 2001.
Associate Campus/Young Adult Minister, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Facilitated a faith-sharing group and planned activities for young adults in the diocese. May 1999-May 2000.
Campus Ministry volunteer, Holy Cross College. Co-directed the RCIA and Confirmation programs, directed a Bible study group, assisted in the planning of retreats, and coordinated readers for Sunday liturgies. August 1997-May 1999.
Assistant Rector, Pasquerilla East residence hall, University of Notre Dame. Assisted the Rector in directing residence hall programs and working with Resident Assistants. 1996-1997.
Assistant to full time staff in the Office of Information Technologies, University of Notre Dame. Maintained security and other database information, assisted with special projects, and performed consulting and management duties in Notre Dame’s public access computer labs. August 1994-August 1996.
Team leader, Office of Information Technologies, University of Notre Dame. Assisted the lab manager in maintaining a good operating environment in the computer lab and in supervising consultants; included consulting duties. August-December 1994.
Computer consultant, Office of Information Technologies, University of Notre Dame. Assisted users in the public access computer labs with a variety of applications in Mac OS, DOS, and Windows operating environments. August 1992-August 1994.
References
Available upon request.
