Representing the Braniff graduate student body
The Braniff Graduate Student Association (BGSA) of the University of Dallas was established
to further the interests of the student body of the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal
Arts within the University of Dallas community. All students enrolled in the Braniff
Graduate School are members of the BGSA.
The BGSA is comprised of a Senate and an Executive Board. The Senate consists of six
Senators, who represent the interests of the members of the BGSA on all matters concerning
school policy and student life. The Senate as a whole serves as a forum for BGSA participation
in the larger University community. Consisting of the President, the Treasurer, and
the Secretary, the Executive Board administers the activities of the BGSA and serves
as the official voice of the BGSA to the students, faculty, staff, and administration
of the University.
Executive Board, 2023-2024:
Upcoming Events:
9th Annual Braniff Conference in the Liberal Arts
9th Annual BCLA: The "Perennial Quarrel" Between Poetry and Philosophy | October 27-8,
2023
Each year the Braniff Graduate Student Association organizes a conference that reflects
the unique interdisciplinary nature of the Braniff Graduate School and its emphases
on classical education and contemporary scholarship.
Discover more about the 9th Annual BCLA.
Other Events for Braniff Students:
Conference: What is Just According to Nature?
Conference: What is Just According to Nature? | Friday, April 1, 2022
We are pleased to announce a conference, “What is Just According to Nature? A Dispute
Between Thomas Aquinas and Leo Strauss.” Addressing the fundamental questions at the
heart of natural law theory, the conference aims to clarify the ground of the disagreement
between Thomas Aquinas and Leo Strauss on such questions as the knowability of natural
law and the relation between theology and natural law. Although there are important
affinities between the Straussian and Thomistic approaches to the question of natural
justice—e.g., an understanding of nature as normative and of human nature as essentially
unchanging throughout history, as well as a defense of the contemplation of the truth
as the highest human activity—there are also important points of tension which, when
examined, enable us to better see what is distinctive in each approach.
To this end, the University of Dallas has invited a select group of scholars to discuss
the basic themes of this dispute as framed by Dr. James Carey in his book, Natural
Reason and Natural Law: An Assessment of the Straussian Criticisms of Thomas Aquinas.
We envision the conference as a friendly dialogue between scholars whose thoughtful
disagreement on this topic can help us to grasp the basic problems that inhere in
the philosophic quest for justice.
For more information, check out the official conference page.
Past Events:
8th Annual Braniff Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts
8th Annual BCLA: For Every Time, a Season | March 4-5, 2022
Each year the Braniff Graduate Student Association organizes a conference that reflects
the unique interdisciplinary nature of the Braniff Graduate School and its emphases
on classical education and contemporary scholarship.
Discover more about the 8th Annual BCLA.
4th Annual Braniff Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts
4th Annual BUCLA: The Good Life | February 4-5, 2022
Each year the Braniff Graduate Student Association organizes an undergraduate conference
that focuses on eudaimonia, the good life.
Discover more about the 4th Annual BUCLA.
7th Annual Braniff Conference in the Liberal Arts
7th Annual BCLA: Solitude and Community | March 5-6, 2021Each year the Braniff Graduate Student Association organizes a conference that reflects
the unique interdisciplinary nature of the Braniff Graduate School and its emphases
on classical education and contemporary scholarship.Discover more about the 7th Annual BCLA.
3rd Annual Braniff Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts
3rd Annual BUCLA: The Good Life | Jan. 16, 2021
Each year the Braniff Graduate Student Association organizes an undergraduate conference
that focuses on eudaimonia, the good life.
Discover more about the 3rd Annual BUCLA
Professional Development Workshop on the Seminar Method
Nov. 9, 2019 at 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Braniff 202
Dr. Gerard Wegemer from the English Department will lead a seminar on the short text,
"To the Young, on How to Profit from Pagan Literature" by St. Basil, an experienced
educator, accomplished classical scholar, and master rhetorician. A Q&A session on
the seminar teaching method will follow the discussion of the text.
Please find a digital copy of the text here or stop by the Politics Department to claim a hard copy.
Dr. Wegemer requests that you please email your short response to the study question
posed by 4:00 pm on Friday, November 8th. His email address is wegemer@ngskmc-eis.net.
If you have questions, please contact Professional Development Committee Chair, Angela
Burr at aburr@ngskmc-eis.net.
6th Annual Braniff Conference in the Liberal Arts
6th Annual BCLA: Nature and Human Flourishing | Nov. 15-16, 2019
Each year the Braniff Graduate Student Association organizes a conference that reflects
the unique interdisciplinary nature of the Braniff Graduate School and its emphases
on classical education and contemporary scholarship.
Discover more about the 6th Annual BCLA.
2nd Annual Braniff Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts
2nd Annual BUCLA: The Good Life | Oct. 11-12, 2019
Each year the Braniff Graduate Student Association organizes an undergraduate conference
that focuses on eudaimonia, the good life.
Discover more about the 2nd Annual BUCLA
Professional Development Workshop on Resumes and Publishing
Date: Apr. 6, 2019
Esther Moon (IPS Literature) discussed how to strengthen a resume and how to prepare
a submission for publication in an academic journal. Alex Taylor (IPS Literature) discussed
what to avoid when writing a conference abstract.
Professional Development Workshop on Pedagogy
Date: Mar. 2, 2019
Dr. William "Bill" Frank and Dr. Christopher Mirus from the Philosophy Department
spoke on how beginning instructors ought to prepare a syllabus and design a course.
Dr. John Peterson (IPS Politics) and Kimberly Heil (IPS Philosophy) spoke on how to
lecture and how to use Socratic circles.
Click here for the workshop handout and here for an article by Dr. Frank on liberal education and UD's Core.
Guest Lecture by Dr. Peter Kreeft
Date: Feb. 23, 2019
Dr. Peter Kreeft, well-known author and professor of philosophy at Boston College
and The King's College, delivered a lecture entitled, "A Trinitarian Psychology of
the Creative Imagination: Mind, Will and Heart" at the University of Dallas. This
event was sponsored by the Provost's Office and the BGSA.
You may watch Dr. Kreeft's lecture here.
5th Annual Braniff Conference in the Liberal Arts
5th Annual BCLA: Scripture and the Disciplines | Feb. 15-16, 2019
Each year the Braniff Graduate Student Association organizes a conference that reflects
the unique interdisciplinary nature of the Braniff Graduate School and its emphases
on classical education and contemporary scholarship.
Discover more about the 5th Annual BCLA.
1st Annual Braniff Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts
1st Annual BUCLA: The Good Life | Oct. 5-6, 2018
Keynote Address: "Pietas" by Dr. Susan Hanssen | University of Dallas, History Department
This conference aimed to recover and renew the Western heritage of liberal arts and
the Christian intellectual tradition in pursuit of eudaimonia, the good life. There were panels made up of upper level undergraduate students from
across the country as well as a number of UD undergraduate students. Braniff graduate
students served as moderators.
Resources