Robert J. Spitzer is a Jesuitpriest, philosopher, educator, author, speaker, and retired President of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Spitzer is founder and currently active as president of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing educational materials on the complementarity of science, philosophy, and faith. He is also president of the Spitzer Center of Ethical Leadership, dedicated to helping Catholic and for-profit organizations develop leadership, constructive cultures, and virtue ethics.
Spitzer began his teaching career at St. Louis University as a teaching assistant in 1978. He continued at Seattle University as an instructor of philosophy from 1978-80. He taught as an assistant professor of philosophy at Georgetown University from 1984–90, where he received the Bunn Medal for Most Outstanding Faculty Member in 1989. He proceeded to Seattle University where he was tenured as an associate professor of philosophy in 1996. During that time he held the Frank Shrontz chair of professional ethics and won the award for outstanding faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1997. On September 17, 1998, Spitzer was inaugurated as the 25th President of Gonzaga University.
Religious career
Spitzer entered the OregonProvince of the Society of Jesus in August 1974. He took his first religious vows in August 1976. He was ordained a priest in June 1983, and professed the fourth vow particular to the Society in April 1994. His theological interests focus on two areas: fundamental theology and New Testament scripture studies. He is the co-director of the Institute on Faith and Reason at Gonzaga University. Spitzer's interests in New Testament scripture studies focus on Christology, his thesis at the Gregorian University in Rome was entitled, The Influence of Sophia Speculation on Early Christological Hymns. His thesis at the Weston School in Cambridge, for which he won the American Bible Society award, is entitled, The Depth Grammar of "Pneuma" and "En Christo" in I Cor: 12. He is currently completing a book on Christology entitled, The Unconditional Love of God in Jesus Christ. Spitzer has served the Church in a variety of different capacities: as an advisor to the Theological Committee of the Washington State Catholic Conference between 1994-98 as spiritual director to contemplative religious communities, as advisor to lay religious groups, and as a lecturer in Catholic Higher Education, fundamental theology, Christology, ecclesiology and spirituality. He has also been a featured guest and series host on the Eternal Word Television Network. Spitzer belongs to several Catholic professional associations: the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the American Catholic Philosophical Association, the Jesuit Philosophical Association, and the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars.
Writing and publications
Books
The Spirit of Leadership: Optimizing Creativity and Change in Organizations.
He has published other articles in a variety of journals and collections concerned with leadership, metaphysics, ethics, ontology of physics, and higher education. Father Spitzer has appeared on several national television programs, including Larry King Live, The History Chanel, The Today Show, and PBS—Closer to the Light. He has a weekly nationwide television program on EWTN called "Father Spitzer's Universe." He also produced eleven television series for EWTN since 1998.
Founder of institutes and organizations
Spitzer has founded or co-founded five institutes and organizations since 1987:
The Magis Center of Reason and Faith
Upon his retirement from Gonzaga, Spitzer founded the Magis Institute, located at the Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, which produces books, articles, documentaries, videos, and new media materials on the complementarity of science, philosophy, and faith—particularly physics, cosmology, philosophy of science, and metaphysics. It also produces high school programs, college programs, and adult education programs. As president, Spitzer continues to write, teach, and speak widely on the issues of philosophy of science, metaphysics, theology, and ethics. On 10 September 2010, Spitzer was a panelist on a full-hour prime-time feature with Stephen Hawking dealing with the relationship of faith and reason on Larry King Live. The program also featured noted author Deepak Chopra and Hawking's co-author, Leonard Mlodinow.
Spitzer Center of Ethical Leadership
Spitzer founded this organization in 2005 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The organization focuses on developing leadership, constructive cultures, and virtue ethics in Catholic and for-profit organizations.
Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education
Located in Seattle and Spokane, Washington — co-founded by Spitzer in 1993, who remains active in its leadership. This organization helps business faculty in Jesuit universities to develop modules in ethics, service, social responsibility, and spirituality—commensurate with the educational ideals of the Society of Jesus. It also publishes the annual Journal of Jesuit Business Education.''
Healing the Culture
A Seattle-based organization co-founded by Spitzer in 1998, who remains active in its leadership. This organization is dedicated to developing educational materials on the philosophical underpinnings of the life issues—particularly "beginning of life" and "end of life" issues. It addresses how these issues affect and are affected by the notions of "happiness", "virtue", "freedom", "love", "personhood", "suffering", and "the common good".
University Faculty for Life
A Washington, DC, organization founded by Spitzer, University Faculty for Life began in 1989. This organization is devoted to promoting research, dialogue, and publication by faculty who respect the value of human life from conception to natural death. It holds an annual conference at different universities and publishes its annual proceedings -- Life and Learning.
