History

Dr. Ben Brown is currently professor and chair of Theological Studies at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio where he has been teaching for 18 years. He has taught history, philosophy, scripture, and logic variously at St. A’s for 15 years.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville and his doctorate in systematic theology from Catholic University of America. He has been married for 21 years to Cindy, who also teaches at St. A’s in Ann Arbor, and they have five children, two of which attend St. A’s and two who are in college. In addition to his love of Christ and of learning, Dr. Brown likes ultimate frisbee, board games, and ice cream.

Sacred Scripture

Monica Migliorino Miller, Ph.D. holds a Doctorate in Theology from Marquette University--as well as a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts. She has 37 years of teaching experience both at the high-school and university level, fifteen of those years as an Associate Professor of Theology at Madonna University in Livonia. She is the author of numerous articles for several catholic publications including First Things, Culture Wars Magazine, National Catholic Register, New Oxford Review, Catholic World Report, Crisis Magazine and New Oxford Review. She is the author of Sexuality and Authority in the Catholic Church, The Authority of Women in the Catholic Church, The Theology of the Passion of the Christ, and Abandoned--The Untold Story of the Abortion Wars. Dr. Miller is a nationally known pro-life leader--founder and Director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society.

Literature

Mary Catherine Russell holds a B.A. from Benedictine College in English and Political Science and an interdisciplinary M.A. in Medieval Studies from the Medieval Institute at Western Michigan University, where she specialized in medieval languages. Her academic interests include Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse language and literature, the work of Hildegard von Bingen, and historical linguistics.

She lives with her husband Ben and baby Beatrix, who often comes along to help teach class.

History & Geography / administrator

Rachel Boudreaux, a St. A’s alum, studied music and geography at Eastern Michigan University. She plays viola in the Dexter Community Orchestra. In addition to music, she enjoys biking, reading, knitting, an many other hobbies. Her husband, John Paul, is also a graduate of St. Augustine’s, and they’ll always be grateful for the program bringing them together.

Schola

Lucia Campbell, born in Florence, Italy, is a graduate of the Con-servatorio Luigi Cherubini in Florence where she studied cello and voice.

Prior to dedicating herself to serving in the church, she had an active opera career that spanned Europe and the USA. An active church musician in Italy and the United States, in 2005 - 2020 Mrs. Campbell was the Director of Music at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Currently she holds the same position at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church in Bella Vista, AR. Mrs. Campbell has been the Choir Director for the St. Augustine Home Enrichment Program since 2005. With this group she has toured in both the USA and Europe.

Philosophy

Cindy Brown has been teaching philosophy for over 20 years. After converting to the Catholic Church at the age of 16, she attended Franciscan University of Steubenville, earning a double major in Theology and Philosophy followed by a Masters in Philosophy. She then attended the Catholic University of America and completed all the requirements for a Ph.D. in Philosophy except for the dissertation. She affectionately calls her 5th child her “little dissertation” instead. She is happily married to Dr. Ben Brown and has been homeschooling their 5 children.

Latin

I earned my BA from Wayne State University, my MA from Columbia University, and did post graduate work at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in philosophy and Humanities. I also did postgraduate work at the American Academy in Rome where I studied Roman architecture. I spent two summers at Tufts University studying classical Greek. I love teaching Latin and have spent almost my entire academic life in a classroom. I still work with students who are interested in preparing for the Latin AP Exam. My husband and I have 5 children between us and 17 grandchildren. Life has been good to us, and we are eternally grateful for our blessings

Mathematics

Mrs. Karen Rivard holds a BS in mathematics and a MA in education. In addition to homeschooling her own 5 children, she has taught at several local Catholic schools, homeschool coops, and has tutored numerous students over 40 years.

Karen enjoys spending time with her 7 grandchildren, hiking with her husband Mark, and traveling.

Logic, Philosophy, Drama / Administrator

Miss Russell is Headmistress of St. Augustine’s HEP, South Lyon, lead tutor for St. Augustine’s Philosophy and Logic courses, and the manager of St. Augustine’s Scholas. She is a graduate of the first St. Augustine’s HEP class and attended Thomas Aquinas College in California graduating in 2014.

Apart from her regular Logic and Philosophy courses, Miss Russell enjoys teaching Primary Writing, American History, Sacred Doctrine, and Sacred Scripture. She is a great lover of drama and directs The Jeweler’s Players of St. Augustine’s, South Lyon in their annual Shakespeare production.

Her book, Material Logic: Exploring the Foundations of Reason, is used in Upper School I as a part of the Logic II curriculum.

Writing & Science

Lisa has a degree from the University of Michigan in speech and communications. She worked for over a decade with a publishing company, part of that time as a proof-reader/copy editor. She homeschooled each of her own children for several grades and has been involved in homeschool cooperatives since the early 1990s. From 2007 on, Lisa has worked as a professional tutor with St. Augustine HEP and other local cooperatives teaching science, writing, and grammar. She is passionate about teaching and hopes she is the nicest grammar Nazi you will ever meet. She and her husband, Jack, raised five children and have eleven grandchildren.

Literature & Science

Andrew Russell, the fifth of nine children, graduated magna cum laude from Wyoming Catholic College ('22) with a Bachelors in the Liberal Arts. At college he was prominent as a comedian but gave up his aspiring career to teach at St. Augustine's in 2023. His favorite conversation topics are personal virtue, societal or philosophical issues, psychology, art, health, and comedy.

In addition, he swing dances and waltzes, sings folk and polyphony, was once sprayed by a skunk, climbed several 14ers, plays frisbee, and braises cabbage.

History & Grammar

Patrick studied Philosophy and Theology at Benedictine College, graduating in May 2023. He is a graduate of St. Augustine's HEP which led him to study the Liberal Arts at Benedictine.

Patrick is one of eight children. His hobbies are reading, biking, playing card and board games, playing sports (Rugby, Hockey, Spike Ball, etc.) and sitting around the fire singing Irish music.