Historian Mark McGowan speaks on AI, education at UPEI’s St. John Henry Newman Dinner
UPEI students in the Faculty of Arts’ Catholic Studies program are set to host the 8th annual St. John Henry Newman Dinner on Friday, November 20, 2026. This yearly gathering and fundraiser brings together members of the University and the broader community for an evening of fellowship and insightful discussion.
This year’s edition will honour Dr. Mark G. McGowan, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, as the 2026 Newman Fellow. A distinguished Canadian historian, educator, and fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Dr. McGowan recently concluded a 34-year tenure at the U of T, where he served in several major administrative leadership roles, including Principal of the University of St. Michael’s College. For his keynote presentation, Dr. McGowan will address a timely and evolving topic with his address titled, “The AI Revolution, the Pope, and the Classroom.”
The Newman dinner has evolved into an important UPEI tradition that, through generous donor support, enhances the student experience, supports community engagement initiatives like the Theology on Tap series, and ensures all interested students can attend the event free of charge. With significant funding provided by the SDU Board of Governors, the event also serves as a showcase for global learning by Catholic Studies students. Following the keynote address, two students will share reflections about their recent experiential learning opportunity in Rome.
The evening’s events begin with the celebration of the Newman Mass at 5:15 pm at the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre. Following the mass, guests will transition to the SDU Engineering 1954 Lecture Hall, located inside the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building, for a reception and dinner running through 10:00 pm.
Tickets for the public event are available for $100 per person, or $750 for a table of eight, with tax receipts issued for a portion of the purchase price. Interested attendees can secure their seats online by visiting newmandinner2026.eventbrite.ca.
