Emeriti Faculty

Brian Clayton, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus
Email: claytonb@gonzaga.edu

In his teaching, Dr. Clayton hoped to challenge students to live examined lives committed to the pursuit of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. This was his aim no matter the course he taught or the career his students were pursuing. Philosophy is a way of life aimed at these things. In pursuit of these goals, Dr. Clayton found literature and film (particularly popular film) to be ways of exploring what it is to live a good human life as a “sovereign wayfarer” (Walker Percy). He also loves soccer, American football, basketball, and NASCAR.

Rose Mary Volbrecht, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Emerita
Email: volbrecht@gonzaga.edu

Dr. Volbrecht taught Ethics, Health Care Ethics, and Feminist Ethics. She sees philosophy is a practice of critical reflection and dialogue that helps us to become better people and engaged citizens. Engaging with practicing healthcare professionals has been essential to Dr. Volbrecht’s expertise in Health Care Ethics. She served on the Providence Health Urban Ethics Committee and on the advisory board for the Providence Clinical Pastoral Education program. Prentice Hall published her text, Nursing Ethics: Communities in Dialogue. Dr. Volbrecht was a founding mother of the Women and Gender Studies Program.

John Wagner, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus
Email: wagner@gonzaga.edu

Areas of expertise/interest: Medieval philosophy Metaphysics Chinese philosophy