Board of directors
The board provides strategic leadership to the Aquinas Center employing its members' expertise in finance, business, theology, and philanthropy.
Fr. Terngu Oliver Agbile is pursuing his doctorate in philosophy (PhD) from Emory University. He expects to earn his PhD in May of 2028.
Antonio Alonso serves as the Aquinas Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture and Director of Catholic Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
John Bailey is a retired corporate attorney who had practiced with the Atlanta law firm Smith Gambrell & Russell. He is a 1970 graduate from Georgia Tech and a 1975 graduate from Emory Law School.
Joe Barker serves as Executive Director of the Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation. He has previously served as Director of Admissions at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School after twenty-one years experience in a corporate manufacturing environment.
Maria Cressler is the Executive Director of Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, serving in this role since 2009.
Israel Díaz serves as a Senior Instructional Designer in the Office of Digital Learning and La Mesa Academy for Theological Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Israel holds a Doctor of Ministry from Barry University.
Roberto Goizueta is the Margaret O'Brien Flatley Professor Emeritus of Catholic Theology at Boston College where he specializes in Liberation Theology and the intersections of theology and culture.
Kristen Gibbs is a Master of Religion in Public Life graduate of Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
Fr. Victor Laroche, O.P. is the Socius and Vicar Provincial of the Province of St. Martin de Porres, USA. Since 2016, he has been preaching on a part-time basis with "Food for the Poor" across the United States.
Marie Marquardt, Board Chair, is a Scholar-in-Residence at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. She is the author of several books including Living "Illegal": The Human Face of Unauthorized Immigration (The New Press, 2013), co-author of Globalizing the Sacred: Religion Across the Americas (Rutgers University Press, 2003), and has written several young adult novels.
Fr. José-David Padilla, O.P. is Assistant Professor of Theology at Barry University.
Sister Mary Priniski, O.P. is Chapter Prioress of the Catherine of Siena Chapter of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She has a PhD in Theology and has served as the previous Executive Director of the Aquinas Center of Theology.
Gabriela Quiroz is in her junior year at Emory University studying Business Administration.
Mike Penney has made a career in information technology, working over thirty-five years with several Atlanta-based companies. He retired from UPS as Senior Manager, IT in the Supply Chain Solutions Group.
Ron Rezendes earned a Bachelor's degree in Physics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and recently completed his MBA at Mercer University. Ron is the Director of Financial Analytics and Reporting on Emory University's Business Operations team. Prior to that, he was Senior Business Manager at Candler School of Theology.
Jackie Rojas is a first-year Master of Divinity student at Candler School of theology from El Paso, TX. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN where she studied religious studies and chemistry.
Nancy Sestak serves as the Director of Advancement Operations for The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA. She earned a BA in Economics from The College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from Georgia State University.
Rev. Dr. Gabrielle Thomas is Assistant Professor of Early Christianity and Anglican Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
Jim Toner received his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He has published more than sixty journal articles and currently has a private practice in Atlanta.
Joe Vella is the Regional Philanthropy Officer, Individual Donors, for the American Red Cross of Georgia. Originally from Union, NJ, he has a Bachelor of Business Administration / Marketing Degree from the University of Florida.
Mark E. Wedig, O.P. is the 10th President of Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri since 2019. A Dominican Friar of the Province of St. Martin de Porres (Southern), Fr. Wedig holds the Ph.D. in liturgical studies from The Catholic University of America and his scholarship focuses on liturgical studies, religious hermeneutics, and the history of the visual Christianity.
Fr. Terngu Oliver Agbile is pursuing his doctorate in philosophy (PhD) from Emory University. He expects to earn his PhD in May of 2028.
Antonio Alonso serves as the Aquinas Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture and Director of Catholic Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
John Bailey is a retired corporate attorney who had practiced with the Atlanta law firm Smith Gambrell & Russell. He is a 1970 graduate from Georgia Tech and a 1975 graduate from Emory Law School.
Joe Barker serves as Executive Director of the Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation. He has previously served as Director of Admissions at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School after twenty-one years experience in a corporate manufacturing environment.
Maria Cressler is the Executive Director of Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, serving in this role since 2009.
Israel Díaz serves as a Senior Instructional Designer in the Office of Digital Learning and La Mesa Academy for Theological Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Israel holds a Doctor of Ministry from Barry University.
Roberto Goizueta is the Margaret O'Brien Flatley Professor Emeritus of Catholic Theology at Boston College where he specializes in Liberation Theology and the intersections of theology and culture.
Kristen Gibbs is a Master of Religion in Public Life graduate of Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
Fr. Victor Laroche, O.P. is the Socius and Vicar Provincial of the Province of St. Martin de Porres, USA. Since 2016, he has been preaching on a part-time basis with "Food for the Poor" across the United States.
Marie Marquardt, Board Chair, is a Scholar-in-Residence at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. She is the author of several books including Living "Illegal": The Human Face of Unauthorized Immigration (The New Press, 2013), co-author of Globalizing the Sacred: Religion Across the Americas (Rutgers University Press, 2003), and has written several young adult novels.
Fr. José-David Padilla, O.P. is Assistant Professor of Theology at Barry University.
Sister Mary Priniski, O.P. is Chapter Prioress of the Catherine of Siena Chapter of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She has a PhD in Theology and has served as the previous Executive Director of the Aquinas Center of Theology.
Gabriela Quiroz is in her junior year at Emory University studying Business Administration.
Mike Penney has made a career in information technology, working over thirty-five years with several Atlanta-based companies. He retired from UPS as Senior Manager, IT in the Supply Chain Solutions Group.
Ron Rezendes earned a Bachelor's degree in Physics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and recently completed his MBA at Mercer University. Ron is the Director of Financial Analytics and Reporting on Emory University's Business Operations team. Prior to that, he was Senior Business Manager at Candler School of Theology.
Jackie Rojas is a first-year Master of Divinity student at Candler School of theology from El Paso, TX. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN where she studied religious studies and chemistry.
Nancy Sestak serves as the Director of Advancement Operations for The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA. She earned a BA in Economics from The College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from Georgia State University.
Rev. Dr. Gabrielle Thomas is Assistant Professor of Early Christianity and Anglican Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
Jim Toner received his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He has published more than sixty journal articles and currently has a private practice in Atlanta.
Joe Vella is the Regional Philanthropy Officer, Individual Donors, for the American Red Cross of Georgia. Originally from Union, NJ, he has a Bachelor of Business Administration / Marketing Degree from the University of Florida.
Mark E. Wedig, O.P. is the 10th President of Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri since 2019. A Dominican Friar of the Province of St. Martin de Porres (Southern), Fr. Wedig holds the Ph.D. in liturgical studies from The Catholic University of America and his scholarship focuses on liturgical studies, religious hermeneutics, and the history of the visual Christianity.
