Phenomenology of the Human Person: Academic Retreat Led by Dr. Chad Engelland
In this Valor Institute Academic Retreat, we will undertake a careful reading of Phenomenology of the Human Person by renowned philosopher Monsignor Robert Sokolowski. What is most distinctive about the Human Person? Drawing on ancient philosopher Aristotle and modern phenomenologist Edmund Husserl, as well as contemporary developments in linguistic theory and neuroscience, Sokolowski invites us to consider the person as desirer and agent of truth.
Through seminars and lectures, participants will encounter this rich text through under the leadership of Dr. Chad Engelland. Fostering intellectual communion between new friends, this retreat will deepen our understanding of Monsignor Sokolowski’s thought through the lived experience of personal community.
Retreat Details
Our multi-day academic retreats are small gatherings focused on great texts, thoughtful conversations, and intellectual friendship. Each retreat is led by a professor and centers on a specific thinker, theme, topic, or text.
The heart of the retreat is a robust academic program of twelve one-hour sessions—typically nine seminars and three lectures. Seminars are limited to 15 or fewer participants and emphasize close reading, intellectual humility, and the shared pursuit of truth. The professor's lectures synthesize themes and situate the readings within a broader whole.
The atmosphere is intentionally contemplative and relational—free from digital distraction and grounded in attentiveness, presence, and receptivity.
Location
Our academic retreats are held at our Kingfisher Center, which is located on the southwest side of Austin, Texas.
Cost
For accepted participants, the Valor Institute will cover the cost of the program fee, texts, lodging, and meals. We ask for participants to pay for their own travel to and from the retreat — though we do offer travel scholarships for those in need. We do not want cost to be a barrier for anyone desiring to participate in our programs.
Schedule
A typical retreat day runs from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. including time for lunch, dinner, and breaks.
Preparation
Participants are expected to carefully read and annotate all texts before arriving at the retreat. Because of academic retreats involve a significant amount of time in seminar, preparation is essential.
Registration & Questions
Space in our retreats is limited, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. For any questions, please contact us.
About the Leader
Dr. Chad Engelland is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Dallas, where he has served as Graduate Studies Director, Department Chair. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from Xavier University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America. Before joining the University of Dallas in 2014, he taught philosophy at John Carroll University and Borromeo College Seminary in Cleveland. He is the author of multiple scholarly works, including Ostension: Word Learning and the Embodied Mind (2014), Heidegger's Shadow Kant, Husserl, and the Transcendental Turn (2017), and Heidegger on Transcendence (2025). In his scholarship, he seeks to clarify central and enduring questions concerning being, language, and God, engaging both classic texts and contemporary methods of phenomenology and linguistic analysis.
For his excellence in the classroom, Dr. Engelland has received the Haggerty Teaching Excellence Award (2018) and was named Michael A. Haggar Fellow (2019). He has published popular articles on philosophy and other topics in Word on Fire, Dallas Morning News, National Catholic Register, America Magazine, and Philosophy Now. His popular works on philosophy include The Way of Philosophy (Cascade) and Phenomenology (MIT), which has been translated into Chinese and Arabic.