Why did God choose to make us male and female? And what are the consequences of that decision?
—1987 Synod of Bishops on the Vocation and Mission of the Laity in the Church and in the World
Institute for the Study of Man and Woman
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Make a Gift View Free ResourcesOur Mission
The mission of the Institute for the Study of Man and Woman is to pursue a robust, coherent account of the nature of man and woman—both in themselves and in relation to one another.
In pursuing this mission, we are following the teaching of Pope St. John Paul II who told us in Christifideles laici that understanding what it means to be a man or a woman requires a “more penetrating and accurate consideration of the anthropological foundation for masculinity and femininity.”
Our research incorporates both theology and philosophy, as well as biology, neuroscience, the social sciences, and family studies. We explore who man and woman are, their identities, their genius, and their mission—and the implications of that for the family, the Church, and society.
The Why
Today, too many people are confused about their God-given identity, which has led to tragic consequences for our culture. Humanity’s future depends on helping men and women arrive at a deeper understanding of who they are.
To bring clarity to this crisis, the Institute for the Study of Man and Woman investigates the nature of both man and woman since they cannot be understood apart from each other. We pursue a robust, coherent, and grounded account of man and woman, their identities, their complementarity, and their mission.
What We Do
The institute’s mission is two-fold: research and education.
ResearchFirst, we engage in interdisciplinary research into the nature of man and woman, their identities, their genius, and their mission in the Church and world. To that end, we also plan to create a cross-curriculum degree program at Franciscan University that includes courses in philosophy, theology, biology, psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and family studies.
EducationWe organize and sponsor events, workshops, and symposia to share the results of our research with the larger community. Topics addressed include the meaning of the human person, family life, and the need to encourage economic, social, and cultural institutions that more fully respect the human person.
“To this ‘unity of the two’ God has entrusted not only the work of procreation and family life, but the creation of history itself.”
—Pope St. John Paul II, Letter to Women
Engaging the Most Pressing Issues of Our Time
Watch the Man and Woman in the Order of Creation Conference (Fall 2024), where the Institute’s work comes to life through thought-provoking discussions on the nature of man and woman and their role in the Church, family, and society.
Leadership
Director
Dr. Deborah Savage
Dr. Deborah Savage is a theology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Previously, she taught philosophy and theology at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas. She received her doctorate in religious studies from Marquette University in 2005. Her recent research has been focused on the development of a robust theology of the nature of man and woman, both their identities and their distinct and complementary missions in the world. For more information, visit her bio.
Research Fellows
Research Fellow
Dr. Regina Boerio
Dr. Regina Boerio is a psychology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Dr. Boerio has served in the Psychology Dept. at Franciscan University for 46 years and was Chair from 1997 – 2018. She became Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2018. She has served on and chaired multiple committees and in 2017 co-founded GRACE, Gallery of Research, Artistry and Community Engagement that annually provides an opportunity for students and faculty to showcase research, artistic works, innovative community involvement. She has had a variety of clinical experiences including, community mental health assessment and therapy, in-patient assessment, and private practice.
Research Fellow
Dr. Derek Doroski
Dr. Derek Doroski is a biology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Dr. Doroski teaches human embryology at Franciscan University and directs the engineering program. He is a regular speaker on IVF, stem cells and other bioethical topics and won the LifeTech award for the best pro-life presentation. Dr. Doroski has presented his work at conferences that cover a wide range of topics including bioethics and philosophy, scientific biomedical engineering, and Christian engineering. His bioethical work has been published journals such as the journal of the Catholic Medical Association and the National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly. In addition to his bioethical work, Dr. Doroski also does experimental research that is focused on stem cells and tissue engineering. This work has been published in scientific journals such as Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, and PLOS One.
Research Fellow
Dr. Daniel Kuebler
Dr. Dan Kuebler is a biology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Professor Daniel Kuebler, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and the Dean of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Franciscan University of Steubenville. He received his Ph.D. in Biology of the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. He currently teaches courses on evolution, cell physiology and neurobiology, as well as maintaining an undergraduate laboratory that investigates mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow and adipose tissue. Dan is the co-author of The Evolution Controversy: A Survey of Competing Theories (Baker Academic, 2007), and is working on a book entitled Evolution: A Catholic Perspective that looks at the intersection of evolution and Catholic theology.
Research Fellow
Dr. Stephen Sammut
Dr. Stephen Sammut is a psychology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Stephen Sammut Ph.D. is currently employed as a Full Professor of Psychology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Stephen’s primary interest is behavioral neuroscience although he also conducts research in Psychology. The current project in the lab is investigating ‘Perinatal behavior and neurophysiology.’
Faculty Fellows
Faculty Fellow
Dr. Michael Waldstein
Dr. Michael Waldstein is a theology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Michael Waldstein is the Max Seckler professor of theology. He previously taught at the University of Notre Dame before serving as the founding president of the International Theological Institute in Gaming, Austria, where he also held the position of St. Francis of Assisi Professor of New Testament. He served as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Family (2003-2009) and is a member of the the Board of Trustees of the University of Eichstaett, Germany. He holds a B.A. from Thomas Aquinas College, a Ph.D. from the University of Dallas, an S.S.L. from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, and a Th.D. from Harvard University in New Testament and Christian Origins.
Faculty Fellow
Dr. Susan Waldstein
Dr. Susan Waldstein teaches theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Susan Waldstein teaches theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Her area of special interest is the interface of theology and biology in such topics as evolution and hierarchy in nature.
Our patron saint is St. Catherine of Siena, a Doctor of the Church, whose great influence was due to her abiding love for souls.
St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us!
Contact
Dr. Deborah Savage
Professor of Theology
Director, Man and Woman Institute
Franciscan University of Steubenville