Catholic Institute of Technology Becomes World’s First Catholic University Distinctively Focused on STEM Research

Boston, MA, December 4, 2023— Born from a vision to fuse rapid scientific and technological advancement with the wisdom of the Catholic faith, Catholic Institute of Technology forms scientists, engineers and mathematicians who are dedicated to upholding the Catholic faith. This brand new university will welcome students for the first time in Fall 2024 to its campus in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. 

“CatholicTech will pioneer a new generation of Catholic scientists, scholars and saints to allow Catholic wisdom a seat at the table of scientific and technological advancement,” said Bill Haughey, co-founder of Catholic Tech.  “Building a community such as this requires a dedication and focus that is only possible in a technical university and specifically a research university.”

This university is the first-ever Catholic institution created exclusively for research advancements in the fields of the sciences, engineering, technology and mathematics, and is pursuing the elite title of an R1 school. R1 research universities are doctoral institutions with the highest level of research activity, and it is an honor bestowed upon less than 200 universities worldwide. 

The initial vision for CatholicTech was first conceptualized in the minds of Alexis and Bill Haughey, the husband-and-wife team whose own experience drove them to desire a new paradigm in academia where Catholic ethics thrive.  Bill is an accomplished entrepreneur, and Alexis’ background is in academic research with an emphasis on technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.  With the support and influence of Bishop Arthur Kennedy, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, distinguished educator, and now president of CatholicTech, this initial vision was able to come to life.

“Although the Catholic Church has a long history of cutting edge scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements, recent years have seen misinformation promoting the idea that faith and reason cannot exist cooperatively,” noted Alexis Haughey.  “CatholicTech was designed to uphold the legacy of the great Catholic scientists, providing undergraduate students with elite academic research opportunities with career paths in the fields of biology and biological engineering, computer science and civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.”  Many more majors are to be added each year, including neuroscience, astrophysics and nuclear science. CatholicTech students will also graduate with a minor in philosophy and theology, anchoring their work in the sciences to a Catholic foundation. 

CatholicTech is an American university, but has its campus in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, which has long been considered the historic center of Catholic science. Students will live within walking distance of the Vatican Observatory, where they will have the unique opportunity to take courses and conduct research with the world’s leading Catholic scholars, a collaboration that is not just academic but based on a shared mission to educate the faithful on the intersections of faith and science.  Additional partnerships have been established with CatholicTech that include the Angelicum, Gregorian, Santa Croce and Regina Apostolorum.

Jeff Kleck, Chair of Entrepreneurship & Technology Commercialization at CatholicTech, most recently of Stanford University, says the fusion of faith and science is the difference-maker in a CatholicTech education. “Our goal is to provide an immersive experience of the rich heritage of the Catholic faith for students, which includes theology and philosophy, but also includes a deep dive into what it means to change the world with your discoveries,” Kleck said.

Although research and study is the primary focus of CatholicTech, students are also offered a full campus life including social, cultural and liturgical offerings that can be found nowhere else. The unique character of CatholicTech culture is evident in every detail of university life, right down to the school mascot, Astronaut Mike, named for Mike Hopkins, the first Catholic to receive the Eucharist in space. 

In March, CatholicTech will open its doors to potential students serving up an immersive experience into campus life, academics, and research opportunities. More information about in-person campus visits can be found at their March Campus Visit Program Registration.