Evenings at Acton University 2024

John Tomasi is a political philosopher who earned his graduate degrees at Oxford University. He has held teaching and research positions at Princeton, Stanford and Harvard Universities. Tomasi was for many years the Romeo Elton 1843 Professor of Natural Theology at Brown University. In January of 2022, Tomasi left his (comfortable!) chair at Brown to become the first President of Heterodox Academy in NYC.

Umi Waheeda bt H. Abdul Rahman is the Co-founder of Al Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Islamic Boarding School in Indonesia. Umi and her late husband founded the school in 1998. Al Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Islamic Boarding School provides over 15,000 children with free education, accommodation, and health services. The school is entirely self-sustainable through student entrepreneurship. The school has a bakery, recycling center, and even a hair salon that is run by students, allowing them to learn through personal experience.

Dr. Anthony Bradley is Distinguished Research Fellow at the Acton Institute, having previously served as an affiliate scholar and research fellow with Acton since 2002. Prior to joining Acton full time, Dr. Bradley was Professor of Religious Studies at The King's College in New York City where he also served as director for the Center for the Study of Human Flourishing. 

Dr. Bradley holds Bachelor of Science in biological sciences from Clemson University, a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary, a Masters in Ethics and Society from Fordham University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. As a research fellow, Dr. Bradley lectures at colleges, universities, business organizations, conferences, and churches throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Mr. Robert Neal
Rob is a managing partner with Hager Pacific Properties and oversees the firm’s acquisitions and dispositions. He is also an active community member and holds or has held board positions with the Catholic University of America; Catholic Relief Services; The Papal Foundation; The Becket Fund; Catholic Leadership Institute; The Boy Scouts of America (Orange County); Second Harvest Food Bank, and Christ Cathedral Catholic Corporation.

Mrs. Bernarda 'Berni' A. Neal
After a professional career in corporate marketing and advertising, Mrs. Neal now dedicates her time to Catholic evangelization and philanthropy.  Mrs. Neal currently serves on the boards of ENDOW, EWTN, Legatus, Live Action, and Thomas Aquinas College.  Rob and Berni have partnered with the Knights of Columbus to establish a public foundation focused on K-12 education. Her board service on Catholic Leadership Institute, Magnificat Foundation, and Pueri Cantores will come to an end in the 2024 calendar year. Together with her husband Rob, she is a member of the Papal Foundation and the Legatus Orange County Chapter.  They have been married for 40 years and reside in Newport Beach.  They are the parents of two adult children and grandparents to two...so far.