Denise Lardner Carmody

Dr. Carmody was a pioneer in female leadership at SCU, serving as the university’s first female Religious Studies department chair and becoming the first woman provost and vice president before her retirement in 2012. For all of her notable achievements as an administrator, she was, at heart, a teacher and scholar. She connected with students as she taught subjects such as ecclesiology, spirituality and church history. She was uniquely informed on the subjects she taught, which speaks both to her lifelong interest in comparative religious studies and friendships she developed with theologians who influenced Vatican II.

Even on a campus rife with examples of prolific scholarly work, she stood out, writing more than 60 books on topics such as spirituality, feminist theology and ethics. She co-authored some of these books with her husband, John Carmody, until his passing in 1995.

Born in Baltimore, she was a summa cum laude graduate of the College of Notre Dame in Maryland and earned a master’s degree and doctorate in the philosophy of religion from Boston College. She was chair of the department of religious studies at Wichita State University and the University of Tulsa prior to her arrival at SCU in 1994.

Denise’s generosity to the Santa Clara Community is reflected in her philanthropic support of three initiatives: SCU’s Student Emergency Assistance Fund, the Bronco Pantry and the Paul Crowley, S.J. Religious Studies Award Fund. Those wishing to make a contribution in Denise’s name to one of these initiatives may do so at this link.

Memorial Mass

June 3, 2023 10:00 am.

Santa Clara University Mission Church

Reception Immediately Following