CHICAGO, IL (June 28, 2022) — Daniel Wasserman-Soler, PhD, has been appointed the new Executive Director of the Lumen Christi Institute (LCI), an independent Catholic educational institute serving academic communities at the University of Chicago, across the nation, and throughout the world. Dr. Wasserman-Soler will begin his new duties August 15th, 2022, succeeding long-time Executive Director Thomas Levergood who passed away in August of 2021. The selection was made after an extensive national search.
Dr. Wasserman-Soler comes to the Lumen Christi Institute with a BA from the University of Chicago and his MA and PhD from the University of Virginia. At Alma College, which he joined in 2013, Dr. Wasserman-Soler is a tenured associate professor of history and serves as chair of the history department and director of the first year seminar program. He is the author of the book, Truth in Many Tongues: Religious Conversion and the Languages of the Early Spanish Empire, published in 2020.
Dr. Wasserman-Soler won multiple faculty and teaching awards at Alma College, successfully led several campus-wide initiatives, and is highly regarded for his ability to collaborate. As director of the first-year seminar program at Alma College, he worked effectively with the provost, faculty, and staff to implement a unified vision for twenty academic courses anchored in the humanities.
“Daniel’s impressive ability to find common ground across beliefs and disciplines combined with his ongoing dedication to the Catholic intellectual tradition in both his personal and professional life will ensure that the mission of the Institute is in good hands,” said Lumen Christi Board Chair Alietia Caughron.
“The Lumen Christi Institute and Calvert House introduced me to the Catholic intellectual tradition when I was an undergraduate student at the University of Chicago years ago,” said Dr. Wasserman-Soler. “I learned that one could be both a Catholic and a scholar, that my faith tradition boasted a vibrant life of the mind. It is an honor to continue the legacy of Thomas Levergood and to develop the Institute’s strategic direction for the future. What excites me about this position is the opportunity to expand the impact of the Catholic intellectual tradition at my alma mater and collaborate with the wider university community nationally.”
He is a native Spanish speaker and the son of Latin American and Jewish immigrants. Daniel and his family will be relocating to Chicago for the position.
Please join the Board of Directors in welcoming Daniel to this exciting new chapter in Lumen Christi’s history. With the arrival of our new executive director, the Lumen Christi Institute is delighted to continue affirming our mission.
Media Relations Contact:
Leah Bromberg, Communications Director
Email: lbromberg@lumenchristi.org
Telephone: 773-955-5887