Share:

Nearly two years ago, Dr. Thomas R. Krause, a member of the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors, founded the Alliance for Liberal Learning, a consortium of some 30 educational institutions and other organizations, including Thomas Aquinas College, that advance “the enduring value of lifelong liberal learning, which prepares us to live freely and well.” Now the Alliance — or ALL, as it is known — is set to hold its second annual convention in Chicago on October 28-29.

With the theme of “making connections,” the conference aims to bring together “representatives from institutions both academic and outside the academy — schools and colleges with formal great books and core texts curricula, residential and travel learning programs, degree-granting and non-degree — all with a common interest in the value of lifelong liberal education.” Attendees will have opportunities to form partnerships, network, and learn about other organizations’ outreach, media, and public-relations strategies.

To that end, the conference’s schedule (PDF) includes discussions on the following topics:

  • “Building Better Leaders with Great Books”
  • “Partnership Strategies for Survival”
  • “Increasing Participation in liberal learning through the virtuous circle of education and recognition”
  • “Community Partnerships”
  • “A K-8 Classical Education”
  • “Building a National Movement for Reading Great Books”
  • “Innovations in the teaching of Liberal Arts”
  • “Establishing a Successful Development Campaign”
  • “Some Connections and Disconnections between Secondary and Tertiary Studies”

Dr. Krause is a longtime devotee of liberal education, dating back to the decision of his daughter Christel (Kelsey ‘91) to attend the College in 1987. A member of the Board of Visitors and Governors at St. John’s College, as well as a member of the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors, he is the founding president of the Agora Foundation, which offers great books seminars in Ojai, California, and serves as a director of the Alliance for Liberal Learning.

Registration for the Second Annual ALL Conference is still available via the Alliance’s website.