Kathleen P. Deignan
Director, Iona Spirituality Institute
Professor of Religious Studies
Iona College
Department of Religious Studies
715 North Ave.
New Rochelle, NY 10801
Phone: (914) 633-2590
Fax: (914) 633-2248/2363
Email: kdeignan@iona.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00 am -1:45 pm & Tuesday: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm, by appointment
PhD Historical Theology: Fordham University, 1986
MA Christian Spirituality: Fordham University, 1980
BA English: Sacred Heart University, 1971
Program in Spiritual Direction: Fordham University, 1990
GreenFaith Fellow 2008
Sr. Deignan joined the faculty of the Department of Religious Studies at Iona in 1981 as an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies after having served as an adjunct instructor and a part-time campus minister.
Professional Interests
Sr. Deignan's current interests are in the areas of classical and contemporary spirituality with a focus on creation theology and spirituality. Her work is devoted to transmitting the spiritual and intellectual legacies of Thomas Merton and her mentor Thomas Berry in a variety of academic, artistic and pastoral formats. A GreenFaith Fellow, Dr. Deignan completed a two-year post-doctoral training for religious environmental leadership (www.GreenFaith.org).
Dr. Deignan was the founder of the Iona Peace and Justice Studies Program and the Iona Peace Institute in Ireland (1988-1995). She is the founder and director of the Iona Spirituality Institute which sponsors a variety of programs for spiritual enrichment.
A sacred song writer and psalmist, Sister Deignan has composed over 200 songs for liturgy and prayer published in a dozen CDs by Schola Ministries, a project in service to the liturgical and contemplative arts.
Professional Affiliations
Sr. Deignan is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Catholic Theological Society of America, the International Thomas Merton Society and the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality.