We are a society of scholars interested in the life, work and writings of Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) and his times. We welcome you to join us.
This portrait of Nicholas of Cusa, dating around 1460, belongs to the triptych altarpiece in the chapel of the St.-Nikolaus-Hospital that he founded in Kues.
About Nicholas of Cusa
Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) was among the most illustrious Christian humanists of the fifteenth century. Trained as a canonist, he first made his mark in political thought and had a long career as papal envoy, cardinal and bishop. Nicholas was an original thinker who wrote on mystical theology, natural philosophy and Platonism, but also penned over two hundred sermons and two dozen geometrical treatises. His ideas of learned ignorance, the coincidence of opposites, the infinity of the cosmos, and religious tolerance still attract attention today.
About the American Cusanus Society
The American Cusanus Society, founded in 1983, promotes the study of Nicholas of Cusa and his times. It holds a biennial conference at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as well as annual sessions at the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University and the Renaissance Society of America. From these events the Society has produced numerous volumes of collaborative scholarship. We also publish the biannual American Cusanus Society Newsletter containing articles, notices and bibliographies of recent works, which has become an important resource in Cusanus studies. We partner with affiliated societies in Germany, Japan and Argentina and welcome members from around the world.
Officers of the Society (2019-2024 term)
Interim President (through end of 2023-2024 FY)
Il Kim, Auburn University
Former Presidents
Morimichi Watanabe †, C.W. Post Campus, Long Island University (1983-2007)
Gerald Christianson, Lutheran Theological Seminary (2007-2009 term)
Peter Casarella, University of Notre Dame (2009-2014 term)
David Albertson, University of Southern California (2014-2020)
Interim Vice President (through end of 2023-2024 FY)
Jason Aleksander, San José State University
Interim Secretary (through end of 2023-2024 FY)
Sean Hannan, MacEwan University
Treasurer
Thomas M. Izbicki, Rutgers University
Newsletter Editorial Team
Richard Serina, Concordia Seminary - St. Louis
Erin Risch Zoutendam, Seton Hall University
Sam Dubbelman, Lutheran Theological Seminary - Hong Kong
Sean Hannan, MacEwan University
Executive Committee
Tamara Albertini, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (2022-2024)
David Albertson, University of Southern California (2020-2023)
Jason Aleksander (ex officio)
Wendy Love-Anderson, Washington University in St. Louis (2022-2024)
Christopher Bellitto, Kean University (2022-2024)
Elizabeth Brient, University of Georgia (2022-2024)
Peter Casarella (2020-2023)
Donald F. Duclow, Gwynedd-Mercy College (2022-2024)
Sean Hannan, MacEwan University (ex officio)
Joshua Hollmann, Concordia College New York (2022-2024)
Rita George-Tvrtkovic, Benedictine University (2022-2024)
Thomas M. Izbicki (ex officio)
Il Kim, Auburn University (ex officio)
Michael E. Moore, University of Iowa (2020-2023)
Richard Serina, Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (2022-2024)
Advisory Board
Marcia Colish, Oberlin College
Louis Dupré †, Yale University
Wilhelm Dupré, University of Nijmegen
Walter Andreas Euler, University of Trier
Thomas Leinkauf, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago
Erich Meuthen †, University of Cologne
John Monfasani, SUNY at Albany
Francis Oakley, Williams College
Hans Gerhard Senger †, University of Cologne
Paul Sigmund †, Princeton University
Brian Tierney †, Cornell University
Nancy van Deusen, Queen’s University
Kazuhiko Yamaki, Waseda University