Cardin Programs

A New Chapter in the Cardin Tradition!

In the fall of 2026 Loyola’s Center for the Humanities will host the first event in a new series titled “Cardin Conversations,” which will carry on the tradition of the Cardin Lecture in a new format. “Cardin Conversations” will expand Jerome Cardin's original vision in order to offer opportunities for students to participate actively in moderated public discourse and other activities showcasing explorations of topics in the humanities pertinent to the Jewish and Christian traditions, particularly in the area of Jewish-Christian relations. All events in this series will be free and open to the region’s academic and religious communities and the general public. 

Learn more about the 2026 Cardin Conversation!

The Cardin Chair and Cardin Lecture were established in 1984 by Jerome S. Cardin, Esq. Mr. Cardin, who died in 1993, was a Loyola alumnus of the Class of 1943. A lifelong resident of Baltimore, he was a prominent Baltimore attorney—a partner in Cardin and Cardin, P.A. He served on various business and community boards and was well known in Baltimore for his philanthropic leadership. He and his wife, Shoshana, were honored by various organizations for their volunteer work.

Shoshana Cardin, for whom the Shoshana S. Cardin Jewish Community High School is named, died in 2018. She served as officer and board member of a number of civic and non-profit organizations. She received numerous awards, including a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Baltimore Hebrew University, Syracuse University, and Hebrew College, Bostice; a Doctorate of Philosophy from Bar-Ilan University, Israel; the Justice Louis D. Brandeis Award; as well as the Victorine Q. Adams and the Henrietta Szold Humanitarian Awards. She and her husband were members of Chizuk Amuno Congregation.

History of the Cardin Lecture

The Cardin Lecture was an annual lecture dedicated to fostering Jewish-Christian relations, sponsorship of which rotated among the departments in the humanities. It was established through an endowment by Jerome S. Cardin in 1984 to present topics on Jewish-Christian relations, particularly those that define parallels and connections between the two. It was administered through the College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for the Humanities. 

Learn more about the past Cardin Conversations and presentations.

Watch a video of Stephen Nadler's 2017 Cardin Lecture "Spinoza on the Divinity of Scripture."

Watch a video of Adam Gopnik's 2018 Cardin Lecture " Believing Without Belief, Spirituality Without Team Spirit: Thinking about Tolerance in the Twenty-First Century."

Cardin Chair

The Cardin Chair is a professorship dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the Judeo-Christian tradition across the humanities. It was the first endowed chair in the humanities at what was formerly Loyola College, now Loyola University Maryland. 

Past Cardin Chair Holders

Wilhelmus “Pim” Valkenberg, Theology, 2017-18
Patricia L. Bizzell, Writing, 2015-16
Allen Palmer, Communication, 2013-14
Nicholas Martin, Modern Languages, 2011-12
Tod Linafelt, English, 2008-09
Balazs Mezei, Philosophy, 2006-07
Frank Romer, Classics, 2002-03
Mark Thistlewaite and Louis Fantasia, Fine Arts, 2000-01
Bruce Marshall, Theology, 1998-99
Donald Lazere, Writing and Media, 1996-97
Theodore Perry, Modern Languages, 1994-95
Reed Way Dosenbrock, English, 1992-93
Merrold Westphal, Philosophy, 1989-90
Carole Fink, History, 1987-88