Dr. Mariele Courtois

Dr. Mariele Courtois joined the Theology Department at 小草影院 in Atchison, Kansas as an Assistant Professor in 2022. Her research interests include biomedical ethics, technology ethics, disability theology, and the sacramentality of the hospital. She earned a Ph.D. with distinction in Moral Theology & Ethics (2022) and a Master of Philosophy in Theology and Religious Studies (2021) from the Catholic University of America. Her dissertation entitled 鈥淏iomedical Challenges to Identity and Parenthood: An Investigation into the Ethics of Genetic Technologies at the Beginning of Life鈥� applies Edith Stein鈥檚 understanding of individuality to ethical questions concerning genetic therapies and the relationship between disability and identity. She also holds a Master of Theological Studies from the University of Notre Dame (2017) and a B.S. in Biology from Loyola Marymount University (2015). She is a member of the International Association for the Study of the Philosophy of Edith Stein.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Moral Theology & Ethics, Minor Concentration in Philosophy

The Catholic University of America (2022)

M.Phil., Theology & Religious Studies

The Catholic University of America (2021)

M.T.S., Moral Theology & Ethics

University of Notre Dame (2017)

B.S. Biology

Loyola Marymount University (2015)

Areas of Expertise

Moral Theology
Theological Anthropology
Biomedical Ethics
Virtue Theory
Edith Stein

Areas of Research:

Bioethics and the Law
Genetic Engineering Ethics
Beginning- and End-of-Life Ethics
Technology Ethics
Disability Ethics
Benedictine Spirituality and the Sacramentality of the Hospital

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Contributing author of , ed. Matthew J. Gaudet, Noreen Herzfeld, Paul Scherz, Jordan J. Wales. AI Research Group for the Vatican Center for Digital Culture. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Press, 2024.聽

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Keynote: 鈥淧robing the Heart of Medicine: Applying Edith Stein鈥檚 Ontological Studies to Prenatal Genetic Ethics.鈥� 4 July 2023. Valor Personae et Amor Dei: The Value of the Human Person and Divine Love; Meeting Edith Stein. Edith Stein Centre, Alyesford Carmelite Priory, Kent, England.

Featured presentation: 鈥淯nfolding a Gift of God: How Edith Stein鈥檚 Educational Theology Opposes the Technocratic Paradigm.鈥� 7 October 2023. VII Congreso Internacional De La International Association for the Study of the Philosophy of Edith Stein: Pensar La Educacion: Edith Stein. (Online) Catholic University of Avila, Avila, Spain.

Invited: Respondent to lecture by 2023鈥�2024 Russell Family Research Fellow Brian Patrick Green, Ph.D. 10 November 2023. Annual Russell Family Research Conference. Graduate Theological Union鈥檚 Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. (Online) Berkeley, California.

Invited: 鈥淭he Technocratic Gaze and a Perspective of Gift: The Distinctiveness of Catholic Theology for Technology Ethics.鈥� 27 October 2022. Workshop on Catholic Technology Ethics for the 2022 Tech Ethics Symposium. Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and Law. Duquesne University. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

鈥淐hallenges to Identity and Parenthood: Resources from Edith Stein for Genetic Ethics at the Beginning of Life.鈥� 9 September 2023. Edith Steins Leben und Werk. Edith-Stein-Archiv zu K枚ln. (Online) Cologne, Germany.

鈥淚nvestigating the Relationship between Disability and Identity through Edith Stein: Insights for Biomedical Ethics.鈥� 12 November 2022. de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture 22nd Annual Fall Conference鈥斺�溾�楢nd It Was Very Good鈥�: On Creation.鈥� University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame, Indiana.

鈥淭he Future for the Terminally Ill Infant: Developing an Art of Dying for Perinatal Hospice.鈥� 21 October 2018. The American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Annual Conference. Anaheim, California.