Current Certificate Students

We are pleased to introduce here some of our current certificate students.

Adam Rasmussen, certificate student in Greek and Latin and PhD student in Historical Theology

Adam Rasmussen, certificate student in Greek and Latin, PhD student in Historical Theology, is in his third year of studies at CUA.  He is studying the Church Fathers and Foundational Theology, in particular the authority and interpretation of Scripture, with a minor in Spirituality.  Hailing from eastern Washington state, he has an MA in Religious Studies from Gonzaga University, where he wrote his thesis on the patristic roots of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  He also has a BA in Religious Studies from Washington State University, where he wrote his honors thesis on the Catholic Charismatic movement.  He has served in the past as a TA in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and this year will be teaching a First Year Experience class called "Faith Seeking Understanding."  Past research papers have included such topics as the historicity of resuscitations in the Vita Martini, Irenaeus' scriptural understanding of the Millennium, Erasmus' interpretation of Rom. 5:12, and the timing of the ensoulment of embryos.  In addition, Adam volunteers as an adult catechist at his parish when he can.  He lives in Silver Spring with his wife, Angela, an MA-PhD student in Biblical Studies at CUA, and two cats.

Stephen Beck, certificate student in Greek and Latin, started Latin courses at CUA the day after graduating from St. John's College with a Masters in Liberal Arts.  He received his BS in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee in 2002 and continues his career part time in Systems Administration for a web design company based in his home town of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He hopes to study Classics and Early Christianity in the future.  He lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife, Tacy, and daughter, Molly. Thomas Yonker, certificate student in Greek and Latin, is new to CUA this year.  Born and raised in Missouri, he started his post-baccalaureate study of the classical languages at the University of Missouri while living in his hometown of Columbia.  He plans to continue into a PhD in classics, and his interests include classical Athenian humanism, civics, Greek tragedy, and drama in general.  He graduated with a BA in German from Truman State University in 2004.  In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, soccer, music, and ultimate Frisbee.

The Beck family in St. Augustine, FL

David Wilezol, certificate student in Latin, is in his first year of studies at CUA.  He graduated with a BA in History from American University in 2008, but felt moved to return to the classics, having studied both Latin and Greek in high school.  David's senior thesis at American, "Western Roman Responses to Germanic Arian Christianity, 410-524 AD," was nominated for the Janet Oppenheim Prize for the most outstanding senior thesis within the AU History Department.  His areas of interest include Roman history and archaeology, the Ostrogothic kingdom of sixth century Italy, the Homeric epics, and the desert fathers.  He lives in Washington, DC, and aspires to become a Jeopardy! champion when he is not playing basketball.