Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics and Society (ELIES)

ELIES invites regional and national scholars and professionals to give public lectures on social, political, professional, technological, and environmental ethics throughout the academic year. For example, partnering with the Sustainability Program, the Institute offers the Sr. Maura Smith Earth Day lecture. The ELIES also provides the community with a keynote lecture every spring semester.

On Oct. 4, 2023, Mercyhurst celebrated Hispanic Heritage month with a special lecture, "Imagine More" by Dr. Juan Hernández.

On February 7, 2023, ELIES hosted a panel discussion entitled "Religion and Social Justice: A Conversation With Erie Leaders."

On April 27, 2022, ELIES welcomed Lisa Britton, CIS, CCPR, LEED AP BD+C, GGP for a lecture entitled "Creating a Healing Future Using a Holistic Approach to Sustainability."

On February 23, 2022, ELIES hosted a panel discussion entitled "Moral and Ethical Issues Facing 21st Century Policing."

On February 8, 2022, ELIES hosted a panel discussion entitled "Individualism, Community, and the Power of Symbols."

On October 21, 2021, ELIES hosted a panel discussion entitled "Contemplating Afghanistan: The past, the present, the ethical challenge."

On April 22, 2021, ELIES welcomed Daniel P. Horan, OFM, Ph.D. via Zoom for a lecture entitled "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Climate Justice."

Edward A. Jolie, Ph.D., RPA, of the Mercyhurst University Department of Anthropology/Archaeology, recently gave a presentation regarding the status of Native Americans in the landscape of today's America. A premiere event will be happening on Tuesday, December 1, at 7 p.m. on the ELIES Facebook page that will include Dr. Jolie participating in a Q&A on Zoom afterwards. This event is co-sponsored by ELIES and the Department of Anthropology/Archeology.

On February 4, 2019, ELIES hosted a panel presentation entitled "Is This a Crisis? Understanding and Responding to the Drug-Resistant Bacteria Problem." Panel members included Dr. Amy Danowitz (Department of Chemistry), Dr. Lucy Thairu (Department of Public Health), and Dr. Randy Clemons (Department of Political Science).

In 2018 ELIES entered its 11th year and were excited to welcome Dr. Swasti Bhattacharyya, Professor of Philosophy and Religion on April 26, 2018. Her lecture was titled "Converging Rivers: Healthcare and the Intersections of Religion, Culture and Ethics."

On October 15, 2018, ELIES welcomed Dr. Shannon French, Inamori Professor in Ethics and Director of the Inamori International Center of Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University. Her lecture was titled "Artificial Ethics? The Use of AI and Autonomous Weapons by the Military."

On November 7, 2018, ELIES hosted a panel presentation entitled "“Economic Ethics and the Common Good: A discussion of Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quastiones”. This panel included Richard McCarty, Ph.D., Religious Studies, Juan Argaez, Ph.D., Economics, Greg Baker, D. Min., Vice President for Mission Integration, and Lena Surzhko-Harned, Ph.D., Political Science, Penn State Behrend.

On November 6, 2019, ELIES hosted a panel presentation entitled "The Berlin Wall: 30 Years Later”. This panel included Dr. Brian Ripley (Department of Political Science), Dr. Fred Hoffman (Department of Intelligence Studies), Dr. Kathryn Duda (Department of World Languages), and Dr. Alice Edwards (Department of World Languages).

ELIES runs a series of student centered symposia. Once a month students in the University capstone ethics course are invited for an informal faculty led discussion of topics that affect our communal lives and are in the faculty’s areas of expertise. In 2017-18 these symposia will be led by Dr. Maria Garase (Criminal Justice), Dr. Emmaleigh Kirshner (Criminal Justice), Dr. Ed Jolie (Anthropology/Archeology), Dr. Amy Danowitz (Chemistry), and Dr. Scott Michel (Sports Medicine) among others.

ELIES will also be able to provide continuing education credit for professionals and professional societies upon request. Please contact the director for more information.

Ethics Minor

Students seeking the ethics minor will be required to take six courses (18 credits). All students are required to take the foundational Introduction to Ethics course, PHIL 190. They will also be required to choose from a selection of second level ethics courses offered by Philosophy, Religious Studies, Catholic Studies, or Anthropology. Finally, students take three elective courses from the approved list, which come from a variety of departments. All students must take a minimum of one 300 or 400 level course. There is an additional requirement of an internship through ELIES that will be either zero or 1 credit, depending on the needs of the student. Those internships will require the approval of the ELIES director.

Foundation course - Required

PHIL 190 Intro to Ethics 3 credits

Second Level courses - Choose two from these courses

CST 275 Catholicism and Social Justice 3 credits 
RLST 200 Contemporary Moral Issues 3 credits 
ANTH/SOC 125 Introduction to Gender Studies 3 credits 
PHIL 140 Contemporary Ethical Issues 3 credits

Electives choose three

CRJS 101 Justice in America 3 credits 
PHIL 150 Philosophical Studies 3 credits 
SOC 204 Diversity in Society 3 credits 
SBM 220 Legal and Ethical Issues in Sport 3 credits 
ECON 250 Economics of Poverty 3 credits 
RLST 255 Religious Perspectives on Human Relationships 3 credits 
RLST 275 Liberation, Religion, and Society 3 credits 
CRJS 343 Criminal Justice Ethics 3 credits 
ANTH 347 Anthropological Ethics 3 credits 
BADM 350 Business Ethics 3 credits 
PHIL 405 Ethics and the Professions 3 credits 
RLST 440 Peace and Justice 3 credits

At least one course must be 300 level or higher.

History of the Institute 

ELIES was established in the fall of 2008 through a generous grant from Emily and John Costigan. Emily Costigan is a 1964 graduate of Mercyhurst College. The institute is named in honor of her mother, Evelyn Jacobson Lincoln, who graduated from Mercyhurst in 1930. The first co-directors of ELIES were Dr. Daniel McFee (Religious Studies) and Dr. Kevin Sullivan (Philosophy). They developed the distinguished speaker series and round tables focusing on three primary areas: 

1. Socially responsible business practices 
2. Science and emerging technologies 
3. Ecology and sustainability

They also established the annual Rotary Ethics Symposium for high school juniors.