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“What impresses me about ACU is the strength and success of its commitment to theology and philosophy,” Professor Hart said.

"It is most important to me that students in future generations be able, as I was, to ask and address fundamental questions of their own existence and experience with the help of key texts from the unfinished histories of philosophy and theology. What I can no longer do as an individual I must entrust to ACU as an institution, and I have every confidence that it will continue to give students rich opportunities to learn and to think deeply in this way."

Professor Hart said plans to establish a research centre and library in his name with a strong connection to ACU’s Rome campus represented a full-circle moment.

“After graduating from Yale, I began my research career at the American Academy in Rome, just down the street from ACU’s Rome campus,” Professor Hart said.

“From the north fork of the Flathead River in Montana, I feel as though, through this legacy gift, I will be “going home” to Rome where I began my career.”

The Centre’s inaugural director will be Professor Garth Green, who joins ACU’s School of Philosophy as the Ray L. Hart Professor of Philosophy of Religion, based at the Melbourne Campus.

Professor Green comes to ACU from McGill University in Montreal, where he was John W. McConnell Professor of Philosophy of Religion and served as Director of its School of Religious Studies. He was previously based at Boston University, where he worked under, and with, Professor Hart, and taught in Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Theology.

Professor Green has held several leadership roles, including Chair of the Council for Graduate Studies in Religion and Chair of the Canadian Society for Philosophy of Religion.

He has published in the areas of Medieval and Renaissance theology, 19th century philosophy of religion, and 20th century phenomenological philosophy.

ACU Faculty of Theology and Philosophy Executive Dean Professor Richard Colledge said the bequest would be transformative.

“Professor Hart’s generous legacy gift recognises and builds upon the existing strength of our program in theology and philosophy. It will reinforce ACU’s position as the leading theology program in Australia, and one of the world’s finest. At the same time, it will strengthen further one of the School of Philosophy’s several areas of specialisation,” Professor Colledge said.

“What it makes possible is a further sharpening of our focus on the dialogue between theology and philosophy, which is such a key feature of the Catholic intellectual heritage.

“We look forward to the new opportunities it will open for developing our higher degree program in philosophy and philosophical theology, and the new international research collaboration possibilities it will nurture.”

In the international QS rankings, ACU is ranked number one in Australia for theology, divinity and religious studies and number 22 in the world.