At the School of Philosophy’s May Commencement celebration, Msgr. James Watkins was given the Dean’s 1895 Award for exceptional service to the School of Philosophy. Msgr. Watkins, a Basselin Scholar alumnus of the School (B.A., 1983; M.A., 1984), has taught as an associate of the faculty for thirty-five years. Most semesters he offered the very popular Philosophy of God course to generations of grateful undergraduates. Msgr. Watkins, who decided to step back from teaching after the spring semester, currently serves as pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church in Northwest Washington. After studies at Catholic University, Msgr. Watkins studies theology at the Angelicum and the Gregorian University, and, following his ordination to the priesthood in 1989, earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from the Angelicum. He was honored by Pope Benedict XVI with the title Chaplain to His Holiness in 2006. Msgr. Watkins has served in many capacities in the Archdiocese of Washington. We are deeply grateful to him for his long and distinguished service as a teacher of philosophy.
