Margarita Mooney-Clayton

Margarita Mooney-Clayton, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and a Visiting Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford University. She earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Yale University and a Masters and Ph.D. in Sociology from Princeton University. She has authored the books Faith Makes Us Live: Surviving and Thriving in the Haitian Diaspora, The Love of Learning: Seven Dialogues on the Liberal Arts and The Wounds of Beauty: Seven Dialogues on Art and Education. She is currently exploring ecumenical devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, including how sacred images contribute to experiencing the mysteries of faith. She has lectured on beauty, education, culture and faith at venues such as the University of Notre Dame, Hillsdale College, The Consortium for Christian Studies Centers, The Acton Institute, and the Society for Catholic Liturgy. Her writing has appeared in Comment Magazine, Plough Magazine, Real Clear Policy, Scientific American, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Hedgehog Review, Public Discourse, and Church Life Journal. In 2016, she founded Scala Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring American culture through beauty, liberal arts education, and worship. Through conferences, books, blogs, and webinars featuring scholars and artists, Scala shapes public awareness about art, education and liturgy and supports artists renewing great traditions.