Dr. Harlan Stelmach’s work and experience exemplify his dedication to teaching and learning inside and outside the formal classroom.  A 1963 graduate of OHS, Dr. Stelmach completed his bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Latin American Studies from Whittier College before finishing his Master of Theological Studies from the Divinity School at Harvard University.  In 1977 he earned his Ph.D. in a joint program with the Graduate Theological Union and the University of California in Berkeley in the fields of Religious Studies, Social Ethics and Social Theory.  He continues to serve as a tenured professor and chair of the Humanities Department at Dominican University of California in San Rafael, teaching courses in ethics and philosophy.  Prior to his arrival at Dominican University, Dr. Stelmach taught at both St. Mary’s College in Moranga and the University of San Francisco.  Along with serving on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, Dr. Stelmach co-authored “Doing Ethics in a Diverse World”,  a work that attempts to provide a practical framework for challenging ethical relativism and fundamentalism by bridging moral philosophy and religious ethics. The book aims to help students confront the many challenges they face in a pluralistic and interdependent world.   He has also been published in “The Journal of Teaching Ethics”, “The Pacific Coast Theological Journal”, and “The Ecumenical Review”.   His list of papers and public lectures is extensive and impressive. His dedication to and love for learning has led friends and colleagues to describe Dr. Stelmach and as an outstanding teacher, leader, and an excellent role model for those seeking careers in the academic world.

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