Joann C. Heaney-Hunter

Associate Professor, Theology & Religious Studies
Ph.D. Fordham University

Dr. Joann Heaney-Hunter currently serves as Associate Professor of Theology and Director of the University Core Curriculum at St. John's University, New York.  Her primary area of expertise is the theology and practice of Christian marriage and family life. 

She has served as an advisor to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Marriage and the Family, and the Sacramental Practices Committee of the Priests' Senate of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York.  She now serves as an advocate for the Diocesan Tribunal, Diocese of Rockville Centre, and as a member of the Diocesan Clergy Sex Abuse Review Board for the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Heaney-Hunter has won a number of teaching excellence awards, has received significant grant funding, and has published two books on marriage preparation co-authored with Dr. Louis Primavera.  The books are a Leader's Guide and Couple's workbook for the process called Unitas:  Preparing for Sacramental Marriage, (Crossroad Publishing, 1998).

Dr. Heaney-Hunter's most recent publications include an article entitled "Dancing Together:  The Family and the Trinity," in a volume honoring sacramental theologian Bernard Cooke, and "Blessed, Broken and Shared:  Toward a Eucharistic Spirituality of Marriage" in a volume honoring theologian Michael Lawler.  Forthcoming articles include "The Family as Reconciling Community."  Dr. Heaney-Hunter is currently working on a new book which will develop a sacramental spirituality of family; she is also pursuing a certificate in Spiritual Direction.

Dr. Heaney-Hunter has also lectured widely on Christian marriage and family topics.  In 2003, she was a keynote speaker at the Michigan Priests' Continuing Education Forum, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's marriage preparation conference.  She also was a speaker at the 2003 Los Angeles Religious Education Conference, and the 2003 College Theology Society Conference.  Dr. Heaney-Hunter will be giving a number of presentations in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre over the next few months, and will be presenting a major address at the 2004 Los Angeles Religious Education Conference.

heaneyhj@stjohns.edu