The Aquinas Center of Theology announced six new board members at an Oct. 21 board meeting on the Emory University campus.

They are Patricia Allgood, chair at Vistage in Atlanta; David Blumenthal, professor of Judaic studies at Emory University; Stephen Crim, chief executive officer of American Safety Insurance; Randy Hain, managing partner of Bell Oaks; Father T.J. Meehan, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta; and Sister Mary Priniski, chapter prioress of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Adrian Dominican sisters.

The diversity and strengths that these new board members bring to the center will continue to infuse the development of Catholic scholarly programming for the archdiocese, said Joe Foltz, board chairman.

“The board has added six new members from the Dominican, Emory, Atlanta Archdiocese and Atlanta business communities. They are bringing new perspectives and energy to the board as we launch initiatives to reinforce The Aquinas Center’s identity through major speaker programming and formation of the supporting friends of The Aquinas Center,” Foltz said.

The new members join 14 others on the board.

The Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University provides a Catholic scholarly presence, ecumenical in spirit, for the benefit of Emory University, the archdiocese and the region. It provides speaker programs throughout the archdiocese, which include a major speaker program that will bring Cardinal Walter Kasper to Emory’s campus on Tuesday, March 2.

The director of the Aquinas Center, Phillip M. Thompson, also acknowledged the contributions of former board chairman Dave Balunas, who died Sept. 28. He was a member of the board of directors from 1999-2009 and chairman of the board from 2001-2009. Under his tenure, the Catholic Studies Minor at Emory University came to fruition and the financial stability of the center was maintained as well.

“Dave was liked by everyone on the board and had given much of himself for the center. We will miss him,” Thompson said.