EAST AURORA - Christ the King Seminary has announced the appointment of Brian Bajzek as a full-time faculty member. Bajzek is now assistant professor of Systematic Theology and director of Pre-Theology at the seminary. He served as an adjunct professor for the past three years during which time he helped write the curricula for eight classes that serve as part of the academic formation for pre-theologians.

A native of Chicago, Bajzek earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Marquette University in Milwaukee. He was awarded a Ph.D. from Regis College in Weston, Mass., and University of Toronto after defending his dissertation, "An Exigence for the Other: Exploring Intersubjectivity through Lonergan, Levinas and Girard," in September 2018.

Bajzek has written a number of peer-reviewed articles in top philosophy and theology journals, including Theological Studies, International Philosophical Quarterly and The Heythrop Journal. He has received several honors and awards, and has been invited to participate in numerous lectures, seminars and panels. Bajzek has also served as director of the Philosophy Component of the International Institute for Method in Theology since its creation in 2017.

He was instrumental in establishing the inaugural International Conference for Collaborative Philosophy, Theology, and Ministry at the seminary last February. This annual event attracts leading national and international speakers, scholars and ministers to Western New York.