The Fireside Chats are a series of conversations and remembrances with present and retired faculty. The presenters will reflect on their time at D’Youville College, their colleagues and students—past and present, the changes they have witnessed at the college and their vision of D’Youville College for the future.

Liberal Arts faculty including John Abbarno, Paul Johnson and Robert Nielsen are the speakers for this event.

Refreshments to follow.

Speaker Biographies

G. John M. Abbarno, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy and former Chair of the Department of Liberal Arts, Dr. Abbarno has both presented and published numerous articles and books on Ethics and Applied Ethics, including his most recent book, The Ethics of Homelessness: A Philosophical Perspective. He is an active member in philosophical societies, and coordinates professional meetings nationally and internationally in Finland, Costa Rica, Russia, England, Africa, Vietnam, and China. Dr. Abbarno is also a Faculty Advisor for the Study Abroad Program at D’Youville.

Paul R Johnson, Ph.D. Having taught a range of courses in religious studies and ethics at D'Youville, Dr. Johnson has focused his work in recent years in the areas of his courses "Challenges of Death" and "Bioethics Seminar." He has pursued post graduate study in these fields through a National Endowment for the Humanities sponsored Summer Seminar at Indiana University and a clinical ethics internship at Loma Linda University and Medical Center. Dr. Johnson has been active in the American Academy of Religion at both the regional and national levels, in the latter of which he has recently served as co-chairperson of the "Bioethics and Religion" study group. He continues to enjoy teaching and remembers with happiness the students he has come to know over his thirty plus years at the college.

Robert Nielsen, M.A. Professor Nielsen came to the College in 1969 and has specialized in Ethics, Eastern Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Religion. He has received the college award for teaching excellence and was named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow by the Foundation of Higher Education. He is currently President of the Faculty Council. Professor Nielsen also teaches Latin.