Briar Cliff University Hosts Annual Sr. Ruth Agnes Ahlers Lecture with Dr. Trish Zimmerman

(Sioux City, Iowa - October 2, 2025) On October 1, Briar Cliff University's Theology Department Hosted its annual Sr. Ruth Agnes Ahlers Lecture in the St. Francis Center on campus. The event, held from 7 to 8 p.m., welcomed Dr. Trish Zimmerman of St. Olaf College as this year's featured speaker.

Zimmerman, a scholar of Christian history and theology, spoke on themes of spirituality, environment, and community in alignment with the University's academic theme, "reverencing creation." Her lecture drew on her current project, A Mysticism of Place: Minnesota Biomes as Holy Encounter, which explores how the natural world serves as a sacred space for encounter and reflection.

Preceding the lecture, participants were invited to join Zimmerman for a prairie walk adjacent to campus, to further embody the conversation around creation and environment. The event brought together students, faculty, staff, and members of the broader Siouxland community for reflection and dialogue.

The lecture honors Sr. Ruth Agnes Ahlers, OSF (1917-2006), Professor and Professor Emerita of Theology at Briar Cliff from 1967-2000. Sr. Ahlers was instrumental in helping the University and the Sioux City Diocese engage with the theological developments of Vatican II and is remembered for her devotion to the Eucharist and her belief in the formative power of worship.

The Ruth Agnes Ahlers Lecture continues each academic year as part of Briar Cliff's mission to reflect on its Catholic and Franciscan intellectual heritage and strengthen the University's commitment to faith, learning, and service.