HARVARD CATHOLIC FORUM

Deacon Tim O’Donnell received his A.B. in Classics from Harvard, and after a year as a Knox Fellow studying the history of urbanism at University College London, earned a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. In addition to pursuing a professional career in real estate finance, he was ordained a deacon and is currently assigned to St. Paul’s in Harvard Square. His theological training includes an M.T.S. from Weston Jesuit School of Theology and an S.T.L. from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. His articles have appeared in the Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Theological Studies, and Worship. Paulist Press released his book The Deacon: Icon of Christ the Servant, Minister of the Threshold (https://thedeaconbook.com/) in 2020.

Doug Zack is a native of Western Pennsylvania, and earned his BA from West Virginia University.  A seasoned professional in the fields of fundraising and communications, he has served since 2013 as the Director of Advancement for the Harvard Catholic Center, while simultaneously contributing to advancement efforts at St. Paul’s Harvard Square and the St. Paul’s Choir School.  Previously he held Advancement positions at Catholic schools, including Catholic Memorial School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, and St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, Massachusetts.  He lives in Canton and is an active parishioner at St. Oscar Romero Parish.

William Endicott is an accomplished organist, singer, conductor, and composer. He is a graduate of the St. Paul’s Choir School at St. Pau’s/Harvard Square, and earned a BA with an emphasis in vocal performance from Saint Anselm College, an MM in Choral Conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi and an MM in Sacred Music–Organ from East Carolina University. He also holds the Associate certification from the American Guild of Organists. Mr. Endicott is the Director of Music and Organist at Holy Name Parish in West Roxbury.

Shani Agarwal earned her A.B. in Classics from Bowdoin College. After a stint as a teaching assistant at a Catholic school in Maine and a position with the Classic Planning Institute, she accepted a fellowship at Harvard University where she earned her M.T.S. in 2023, focusing on Medieval Religion and the Arts. At Harvard, she was also a Teaching Fellow in the History of Art & Architecture department. During graduate school, Shani was a Student Fellow with the Harvard Catholic Forum (2021-23), and she is currently a John Aroutiounian Fellow with the Abigail Adams Institute (2023-24).

Emily Theisen earned her BS from Skidmore College in Management and Business with a minor in Studio Art, focused in marketing and communication design. She currently serves as the Director of Marketing & Media at the Harvard Catholic Center. At Skidmore she worked as IdeaLab Assistant in the Skidmore IdeaLab, the college’s makerspace. Having contributed to restarting the Newman Club, she served as the club’s President for two years. Emily has been a Marketing Intern at Post University, and Graphic Designer for the Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scarsdale, New York.

Matthew J. Hall received his A.B. in Music and Linguistics from Harvard, studied musicology at the University of Leeds (UK) and was organ and choral scholar at Leeds Roman Catholic Cathedral on a Fulbright. He afterwards completed harpsichord and organ studies at Boston University, and subsequently earned a Ph.D. in musicology at Cornell University. He has been Music Director at Immaculate Conception Parish, Ithaca, NY; is the Managing Editor of the Journal of Musicology and Lecturer in Music at Ithaca College; and serves as Associate Director of Catholic campus ministry at Cornell University and Ithaca College.