Darleen Pryds, PhD, has taught History and Spirituality at FST since 2001. She became the Academic Program Director of FST’s MTS-Franciscan Theology (online) in 2020 and oversees the production and implementation of courses in this degree program.
Dr. Pryds has a great passion for the Franciscan Tradition and has studied the role of lay Franciscans as leaders and spiritual practitioners since college. She has written many books and articles on the subject, which can be accessed through Academia.edu. Her teaching at FST invites students to go beyond memorizing abstract theology to explore the significance and varieties of the lived experience of faith. She looks forward to translating her in-person teaching to the online platform in both the courses she produces and those produced by her colleagues at FST. Asked what her hopes are for the MTS-Franciscan Theology degree that is now online at FST /USD, she said, “I hope that more people will be able to study this rich spiritual and intellectual tradition of faith that brings heart and mind together in reflection and study for the purpose of bringing more compassion and mindful presence in our world. We need the counter-cultural insights of Francis of Assisi, the perseverance of Clare of Assisi, and the creativity of all of the lay practitioners of the tradition to inform faith today.”
In her spare time, Dr. Pryds volunteers as a caregiver in hospice, where she encounters wise teachers each and every week. She also enjoys hiking with her family.
In our “Office Hours” series, you can catch a casual conversation with the FST professors. Here is our conversation with Dr. Pryds