After 30 years of teaching and mentoring students at Saint Meinrad, Dr. Ryan LaMothe concludes a career dedicated to educating, counseling, and formation.
Dr. LaMothe holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an M.Div. from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.
He began his career in the United States Army, serving as battery commander, executive officer, and battalion staff officer from 1978 to 1984.
During his time at Notre Dame, he served as a youth minister, and later, from 1986 to 1990, he worked as a hospital chaplain at Memorial and St. Joseph’s Hospitals in South Bend, Indiana. Upon completion of his doctorate at Vanderbilt University, he completed postdoctoral work at a psychoanalytic institute. Dr. LaMothe said, “All of this, I believe, prepared me to serve as a professor of pastoral care.”
From 1991 to 1995, he was the supervisor and teacher of students in the Lay Ministry Leadership Formation Program for the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee. He was also the graduate teaching assistant at Vanderbilt University from 1991 to 1994 and coordinator and therapist in the Individual and Family Counseling Program at Catholic Social Services from 1991 to 1996. He was a therapist at a pastoral counseling center from 1990 to 1993 and adjunct faculty at Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, and Aquinas College from 1995 to 1996.
Dr. LaMothe, along with Dr. Rick Stern, developed a Reflective Practice Certificate Program that trains ministers and other professionals to facilitate a disciplined reflection on the practice of ministry.
In 1996, Dr. LaMothe began his dedicated career at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology as professor of pastoral care and counseling.
Dr. LaMothe found that one of the greatest opportunities and blessings at Saint Meinrad was teaching students coming from diverse cultures and societies, saying, “The diversity of students makes for a richer learning environment.”
Saint Meinrad seminarian Wesley Wheatley said, “St. Francis of Assisi is attributed with saying, ‘Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.’ Dr. LaMothe teaches a similar sentiment to his students, emphasizing that, when accompanying another through a pastoral situation, we are already representatives of God and the Church. This enables us to be more authentically present to the people to whom we minister and to more intimately walk with them.”
Dr. LaMothe hopes that students strive for excellence in caring for people, in the discipline of self-reflection and accountability, and in a commitment to lifelong learning. He had a great impact on students and faculty at Saint Meinrad and will be remembered for his patience, kindness, wisdom, and humor.