Associate Academic Dean
Senior Lecturer in Spirituality
B.A., University of Notre Dame
M.A. (English), University of Michigan
M.A.S. (Applied Spirituality), University of San Francisco
Ph.D. (Christian Spirituality), Graduate Theological Union
Phone: (510) 549-5055
Email: blescher@jstb.edu
Bruce Lescher came to JST in 1998 as a teacher and administrator, arriving from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he had been Associate Professor of Spirituality. In Berkeley he teaches courses in Christian Spirituality, including "Transition and Transformation," "Seminar in Thomas Merton," and "Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality." As an administrator, he started as Director of Sabbatical Programs, serving students who had been out in ministry and were coming back to school for renewal. In 2008 he became Associate Academic Dean and in this capacity handles much of the day-to-day operation of the School.
A native of northern Ohio, Dr. Lescher began his career as a high school English teacher before going on for graduate study. He has taught in Cleveland, Seattle, Austin (Texas), and Chicago. He is married to Clare Ronzani, and he and Clare sometimes present workshops together. Both of them are also involved in the ministry of spiritual direction.
Dr. Lescher's doctoral work focused on modern American Catholic spirituality, but he has also published on more general topics dealing with spiritual formation; for sample publications, see his faculty listing.
