WORCESTER, MA (April 06, 2016) —The modern market economy allows for a level of prosperity that is unprecedented in human history. However, current economic logic can often seem inhumane. On Monday, April 11, Mary Hirschfeld, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics and theology at Villanova University, will discuss some of the tools society can use to move toward a more humane economy. Prof. Hirschfeld’s lecture will take place at 7 p.m. in the Salon of Assumption’s La Maison Française building, located at 500 Salisbury Street in Worcester.

Prof. Hirschfeld’s talk, titled “Toward a Humane Economy: Ordering Economic Life to Genuine Human Happiness,” will explain that the economic decisions that aim at maximizing profits can have negative consequences for workers, consumers and the environment. She will show how the thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas can give us a framework for rethinking economic life in a way that should allow us to better harness the power of markets to the project of serving genuine human flourishing.

Prof. Hirschfeld specializes in the fields of macroeconomics and economic history. She earned her Ph.D. in economics at Harvard University and her Ph.D. in theology at the University of Notre Dame. Prof. Hirschfeld is a fellow of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, and serves on the Board for the Program of Catholic Social Thought at the Lumen Christi Institute. She is the author of several articles on economics and has presented widely in her field.

The President’s Lecture Series at Assumption College is a public forum in which important ethical, spiritual and human issues are illuminated and examined within the Catholic intellectual tradition. All events in the President’s Lecture Series at Assumption College are free and open to the public. RSVPs are encouraged due to limited space. To reserve a spot, please call Sharon Mahoney at 508.767.7322 or e-mail shmahone@assumption.edu.

ABOUT ASSUMPTION COLLEGE

Founded in 1904 by the Augustinians of the Assumption in Worcester, Mass., Assumption College is a Catholic liberal arts institution that offers undergraduate students 42 majors and 48 minors in the liberal arts, sciences, business, and professional studies; as well as master’s and continuing education degrees and professional certificate programs—each through an educational experience that grounded in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition. The curriculum enables students to gain a depth and breadth of knowledge that leads to professional success and personal fulfillment. Students—whether on the Worcester campus or at the College’s Rome, Italy, campus—become engaged participants in Assumption’s classic liberal arts education, exploring new ideas and making connections across disciplines. To prepare for the workforce, students learn cutting-edge theory and best practices, conduct innovative research, and develop excellent communication and critical-analysis skills. Assumption graduates are also known for their thoughtful citizenship and compassionate service to their community. For more information about Assumption College, please visit www.assumption.edu.

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Kimberly Dunbar
Director of Public Affairs
Assumption College