Supporter Spotlight: IACS Trustee Marty Skrip

Editor’s note: IACS Trustee Marty Skrip is a retired KPMG LLP senior corporate tax partner and has extensive Board experience in higher education. In the post below, he discusses why he supports IACS and its mission to further Catholic thought. To learn how you can support IACS, visit dornsife.usc.edu/iacs/impact-of-support

IACS, as a fully independent center for advanced study, has no agenda set for research, dialogue, and programming. Scholars are selected based solely on merit. No university administration or Church hierarchy has influence over IACS research and programming. 

Catholicism has historical roots in the invention of the university, the exchange of ideas, and the study of the humanities. The Catholic intellectual tradition has been a great gift to society for centuries. I was attracted to IACS based on the impact of the work that IACS scholars, research and programming have on university students across the globe. The time young people invest while attending university is a transformational in their human development.

IACS, as a fully independent center for advanced study, has no agenda set for research, dialogue, and programming.

Due to cultural changes in our increasingly secular world, as well as the many scandals and controversies in the Church, many Gen Z Catholics may have turned away from learning about the Catholic intellectual tradition and Catholic social thought. The reality is that many of their beliefs and moral judgements on contemporary issues align squarely with Catholic social thought — from care for the environment to human dignity, rights of workers, religious freedom, gender and racism. 

Many of their beliefs and moral judgements on contemporary issues align squarely with Catholic social thought.

The impactful work of IACS brings awareness to how the Catholic tradition and Catholic social thought aligns with the belief system of the next generation of Catholics. Hopefully, this brings them closer to the Catholic Church and inspires them to embrace the positive aspects of their faith which aims to make the world a kinder, safer, humane place for all, with the byproduct of providing joy in their own personal life.