Dr. Martin Forward - Executive Director and Helena Wackerlin Professor of Religion

Before moving to the United States in 2001, Dr. Forward was Academic Dean of Wesley House, Cambridge, England, and a member of Cambridge University’s Faculty of Divinity. In the 1970s, he worked for the Henry Martyn Institute of Islamic Studies in Hyderabad, India. He was a founding director of the Centre for Jewish Christian Relations in Cambridge, and remains a trustee. He is an ordained British Methodist minister, and was ordained deacon in the Church of South India.

Dr. Forward has edited two books, authored six books (some of which have been translated into German, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian) and has written numerous academic articles.

To contact Martin Forward, call him at 630-844-6535 or e-mail him at mforward@aurora.edu.

Dr. Joe Dunham - Senior Fellow, Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action

Scholars of African Traditional Religions would call Dr. Dunham "the great ancestor of Aurora University," as he has been teaching philosophy at AU since 1964. Dr. Dunham is Assistant Minister at New England Congregational Church in Aurora and in fall 2006, he became the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action’s first Senior Fellow. Dr. Dunham has received numerous teaching awards including:

• 2006 - The Meritorious Faculty Award presented by the Aurora University Student Association
• 2005 and 1979 - The Marcus and Mark H. Trumbo Excellence in Teaching Award

During a May 2007 commencement ceremony, President Sherrick conferred upon Joe Dunham the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa).

To contact Joe Dunham, call him at 630-844-5415 or e-mail him at jdunham@aurora.edu.

Alex DeGurian, Wackerlin Fellow.

Alex graduated from Aurora University in May 2007. He majored in Communication and completed minors in Religion and Political Science.  Alex was a four year member and captain of the Aurora University Men’s Soccer team.  

As Wackerlin Fellow, Alex is responsible for the Values Council, a student dialogue group that investigates topics of ultimate importance. He is also involved in multifaith work undertaken by the CFA, and assists with programming and activities hosted by the Center (both on campus and in the community). Alex enjoys playing and coaching soccer, reading, as well as music from around the world.

To contact Alex DeGurian, call him at 630-844-4885 or e-mail him at degurian@aurora.edu.

Dr. Thomas R. McFaul

Dr. Thomas R. McFaul joined the Aurora University faculty in August 2007. Before joining the AU faculty, he served as a faculty member at several colleges and universities in the United States, most recently at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. He holds a Ph.D. from Boston University and has taught numerous courses in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Ethics. He has traveled widely and taught in Costa Rica. He also has served in a variety of administrative positions.

Dr. McFaul has written many articles and edited two books. In July 2007, he presented a paper entitled “The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism and the Abrahamic Religions,” at the Annual Meeting of the World Future Society, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition, he has recently authored two books entitled, Transformation Ethics: Developing the Christian Moral Imagination, University Press of America, 2003, and The Future of Peace and Justice in the Global Village: Role of the World Religions in the 21st Century, Praeger Press, 2006. He continues his research in these areas and has plans for future publications.

To contact Dr. Thomas R. McFaul, call him at 630-844-3847 or e-mail him at tmcfaul@aurora.edu