Honoring a
Scholar. Teacher. Mentor. Friend. The Peter A. Lawler Endowed Scholarship
S
tudents who ventured into Dr. Peter Lawler’s famously messy Berry office could always count on a warm welcome, a word of encouragement, a challenging question and often the very journal article they needed – after it was extracted from beneath a pile of papers, of course. To the world, Dr. Peter Augustine Lawler (1951-2017) was a distinguished political philosopher; prolific author, blogger and editor; and mesmerizing thinker who was equally at home discussing Alexis de Tocqueville or the latest happenings in pop culture. But to all of us at Berry, he was so much more. First and foremost, he was a beloved teacher who unlocked in countless students a love of political thought and the life of the mind. Many would go on to earn advanced degrees and teach in colleges and universities or become leaders in diverse government and nonprofit positions. For many, he was also a caring mentor who delighted in helping students take the next step in their lives. When a student asked to meet for coffee, he put aside his work and made that person his greatest priority. Students loved him because they knew they could trust him to listen without judgment and, when needed, help them navigate some of life’s most difficult situations – much like a loving father. He was also a dedicated colleague who, over the course of his 38-year Berry career, led his department, lent his voice to important campus discussions and mentored junior faculty. He received all the requisite teaching and scholarly awards one might expect, but perhaps more illuminating was his 2014 recognition as an honorary alumnus, for he truly was one of our own.
Few had the gift “ for friendship as amply as Peter, and he bestowed it widely.
“
- Dr. Paul Seaton Associate Professor of Philosophy St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, Md.
Beyond Berry, Dr. Lawler’s brilliance and generous spirit were widely recognized and respected. Notable achievements included his appointment by President George W. Bush to the President’s Council on Bioethics, receipt of the Richard M. Weaver Prize for Scholarly Excellence and the Ross Lence Master Teacher Award, recognition as George Washington Distinguished Professor of the American Founding by the Society of the Cincinnati, and service as editor of the Perspectives in Political Science and Modern Age journals. He also served on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and more recently the Georgia State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Regardless of endeavor, Dr. Lawler challenged and encouraged us to think for ourselves and strive to reach our true potential, all while distinguishing himself as a loving friend committed to helping us see the value within ourselves and realize our worth to the community and to God. His profound influence is evident in the depth and breadth of tributes penned by national commentators, alumni, students and colleagues in the days, weeks and months following his death. The Peter A. Lawler Endowed Scholarship is one way in which his legacy will continue to burn brightly at Berry for years to come. This scholarship, the first such fund in Berry’s government and international studies department, was established several years ago as a way of honoring the man who meant so much to so many. Contribute today by visiting www.berry.edu/gift or mailing a check to Berry College Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 490069, Mount Berry, Ga., 30149-0069. Be sure to designate your gift to “The Peter A. Lawler Endowed Scholarship.”