Ann R. Riggs, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Marquette University
MAPS (Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies) Aquinas Institute
M.A. in Philosophy, Southern IllinoisUniversity at Edwardsville
B.A. in Philosophy, Southern IllinoisUniversity at Edwardsville 
Diploma, St. Vincent’s School of Nursing , Indianapolis , IN  

Phone: (603) 897-8253; E-mail: ariggs@rivier.edu

Specialties

  • General systematics, especially theological anthropology
  • Church and the modern world
  • Sacramental and liturgical theology

Background
During her first go-round in higher education in a nursing school, she fell in love with philosophy – all those weird ideas she'd been wondering about since childhood were actually important questions! Later in life, the philosophical reflections turned to religious and spiritual questions, and the theologian in her came to life. It was a great gift to be able to return to graduate school in midlife and complete my doctoral work in my 50th year of life.

Academic Philosophy
My greatest strength as a teacher is my own love of learning, and my goal is to poke and prod and tease out my students’ thinking until they find some ideas that they find exciting and important for their own lives.

Recent Publications

  • “Rahner Papers Editor’s Page.” Philosophy & Theology 16 (2004): 195-196.
  • “Response to Terrance W. Klein, How Things Are in the World.” Panel presentation in the Philosophy of Religion section at the Annual Meeting of the College Theology Society, Spring   HillCollege , June 2-5, 2005.
  • “Chauvet and the Symbolic: Real Presence or Eschatological Reserve?” Paper presented in the Sacramental Theology section at the Annual Meeting of the College Theology Society, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., June 3-6, 2004.
  • “Sacramental Efficacy and God’s Action in the World.” Paper presented in the Sacramental Theology section at the Annual Meeting of the College Theology Society, Milwaukee, WI, May 29-June 1, 2003.
  • “Language, Liturgy and Gender: Do the Differences Make a Difference?” Presented in the Liturgical Theology Seminar at the Annual Meeting of the North American Academy of Liturgy , Indianapolis , IN , January 2-5, 2003.