Bellarmine Arts & Sciences

Last night, we gathered to celebrate the legendary careers of seven A&S faculty members who are retiring at the end of the year: Dr. Steven Berg, Philosophy (not shown); Dr. Joey Dobbins, Biology; Dr. Pat Holt, Chemistry; Dr. David Porta, Biology; Prof. Winnie Spitza, Communication; Dr. Tim Welliver, History; and Dr. Steven Wilt, Biology.

Thank you for all of you have done for A&S and the impact you’ve made! We wish you all the best in retirement. You will be dearly missed!

The 2025 Women in STEM Bruncheon brought together students and faculty for an engaging discussion on graduate school applications and personal statements. Guest speakers Dr. Cristina Tone (University of Louisville) and Stephannie Early (Bellarmine) shared valuable insights, and students had the opportunity to network and ask questions.

Students with the RSO HR Club recently visited the Sazerac bottling facility in New Albany, Indiana. In addition to attending a new hire orientation tour of the bottling facility (with all the PPE!), students met with the HR department at Sazerac to discuss careers in HR.

Pictured: Piper Vance, Edwin White, and Kylie Crockett

The Bellarmine University Oratorio Society spent their spring break in France, sharing their music in incredible locations! From a wreath ceremony performance at the American Cemetery in Normandy to a final-day cruise along the Seine in Paris. A special experience for all!

Meet Julien Allen, a senior majoring in Foreign Language and International Studies with a minor in Biology, who has embraced every challenge at Bellarmine. His time here has pushed him to grow in ways he never imagined, showing him the power of community and perseverance. For his Honors thesis, he directed and performed a play with international youth—an idea that once felt impossible, but with support from the Bellarmine community, he made it a reality.

What has meant the most to Julien over the past four years is the power of community and the ability to chase dreams. Whether tackling a tough biology exam, navigating a chemistry challenge, or working on his thesis, classmates and professors like Dr. Joseph Sinski and Dr. Mary Kroetz have always been there to encourage and guide him. Both professors have taken additional time to explain difficult concepts and encouraged him to persevere in his classes.

After graduation, Julien is heading to osteopathic medical school with the goal of providing healthcare either overseas or to underserved communities in the U.S.

Julien’s advice for fellow and future Knights: Don’t get so caught up in challenges that you forget to enjoy the journey. Pursue your dreams using your God-given talents and see this season of life as an adventure you’ll never forget.

We can’t wait to see all that’s ahead for you, Julien!

Bellarmine University’s annual Day of Giving is here, and we need your help. Please consider donating to our Knights Unite campaign to support student scholarships and other University needs. Let’s unite and create a positive impact in the lives of our students!

Congratulations to Josh Bloom - junior English major and Creative Writing minor - for being selected as the winner of the third annual Annette Allen Poetry Prize!

This highly competitive prize for poetry, offering $300 and publication in The Louisville Review, was judged blind by poet Robert Eric Shoemaker and was open to all Louisville area university students, graduate and undergraduate. Josh and others were celebrated for their accomplishments on Friday, February 21st.

All faculty, staff and students are invited to join the Communication Department for Winnie Spitza’s retirement party on March 18 at 11 a.m. in the Fish Bowl.

The celebration will be full of laughs and light refreshments!

Happy Spring Break!

Wishing everyone a fun, restful, and safe break!

Faculty in Arts and Sciences along with Bellarmine Ambassadors welcomed a large crowd on Preview Day!

Thanks to all who supported the event!

Pictured left to right: Isabella Bolen, Emma Pennington, Caitlin Perry, and Adeline Ward

These students represented Pi Sigma Alpha – The National Political Science Honor Society at the 2025 National Student Research Conference in Washington, D.C., from February 14-16.

Sarah Edelen and Riley Goff were on a panel and co-presented a paper on the “Effect of Public Conservatism on State Incarceration Rates.” Dallas Bonnet was on a panel and presented a paper on “Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Women in a Post-Dobbs World.”

Great work ladies!

Pictured left to right: Riley M. Goff, Sarah K. Edelen, and Dallas Bonnet

Meet Justis Loftis, one of our seniors majoring in Music - Vocal Performance! Justis says that Bellarmine has been a great place for her to really figured out who she is, both as a person and a performer. She’s grown in confidence, learned how to push through tough times, and says she’ll always keep moving forward, no matter what.

A big shout out to Dr. Kano who has played an instrumental role in her journey. His mentorship has pushed her to new heights, both in her artistry and her confidence. He has taught her discipline, resilience, and the power of believing in her own abilities. Justis says his impact will stay with her far beyond the classroom. In fact, the Bellarmine community has also been a big part of her growth. She’s made lifelong friends and knows she can always count on her professors for support.

After graduation, Justis is stepping into something new—she’s switching from music to healthcare and will be pursuing a nursing degree through Bellarmine’s ABSN program. While music will always be part of her life, she’s excited about this next chapter where she can help people in a new way.

Justis’ advice for fellow and future Knights: “Push yourself beyond your comfort zone, because that’s where real growth happens. Your journey here is what you make of it, so make it count!”

We’re so excited to see what’s next for you, Justis!

We’re so happy to recognize the students who’ve earned a spot on the Dean’s List for Fall 2024!

Your focus and determination are truly impressive, and we’re so proud to celebrate your hard work. Congratulations!

Science, Steak, and Success!

Join us for a free lunch talk! Don’t miss out! RSVP now!

Happy Halloween from A&S! 🎃

Math Center Director Caroline Boone is channeling her inner ‘math-magician’ this Halloween—she’s got her witch hat on and her equations brewing! Stop by the Math Center if you’re ready to be bewitched by some serious math magic!

Today, our CS430 Machine Learning students had the incredible opportunity to visit Cherokee Park as part of their community engagement project in collaboration with Olmsted Parks. The students are working on a meaningful case study focusing on invasive species and tree canopy data.

During their visit, they explored various locations within Cherokee Park to gain insights into the park’s biodiversity and ecological challenges. This hands-on experience will be invaluable as they analyze the data, uncovering trends and patterns to help enhance the park’s sustainability efforts.

As they move forward, our students will apply data visualization, processing, and machine learning techniques to provide valuable information on the park’s biodiversity. We’re excited to see how their work will contribute to preserving this cherished green space!

The first week back at Bellarmine Arts and Sciences was packed with excitement!

From Convocation where Dr. Zack Ross gave an inspiring message to new students to the reflective Convocation Mass with Father John, followed by an engaging faculty panel during orientation, we kicked off the year with energy and spirit. Students in KNGT classes also gave back to the community during the Day of Service, and we officially launched the academic year with our first day of classes.

Swipe through to see highlights featuring Dr. Martha Carlson Mazur, Dr. Hoon Choi, Dr. Courtney Keim, and Dr. Paul Kiser as we embrace the new semester!

Welcome back to campus! 🎉

Introducing the Math Center—stop by Pasteur Hall to meet the team and get the support you need for a great semester. 📚✏️