Biography

Dr. Eileen M. Daily brings more than two decades of leadership experience in theological and religious education. Most recently, she served at Boston University School of Theology, where she was the Founding Director of the hybrid Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership program and Director of the Online Lifelong Learning Program. In these roles, she led accreditation, assessment, curriculum development, faculty engagement, recruitment, marketing, formation processes, and online learning integration, helping create and sustain innovative educational pathways for ministry leaders.

Prior to Boston University, Dr. Daily served as Assistant Professor of Pastoral Studies and Director of the Master of Arts in Religious Education program at Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies. There, she led program administration and guided faculty transition into online teaching while teaching courses in theology, ethics, ministry, religious education, field education, and digital media in ministry. Earlier in her career, she served as Assistant Professor of Theology at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where she taught across undergraduate and graduate programs in theology and pastoral ministry.

A recognized thought leader in educational innovation, Dr. Daily’s scholarship explores transformational leadership, competency-based ministerial formation, religious education, technology-enhanced learning, digital media, and the role of visual art in faith formation. She has authored numerous articles, book chapters, and educational resources and has presented nationally and internationally on topics including online learning, educational technology, theological education, and religious formation. Her recent scholarly interests include the future of religious education, technology and ethics, and innovative approaches to theological formation.

She is especially interested in how technology can (and should) mediate theological and religious education and is the author and architect of art/y/fact.Xn, an app for mobile devices that helps users make sense of or meditate with Christian artworks in museums, in churches, on the tourist trail or on the Web. Her other research interests are in interfaith religious education, public religious education, and religious education through visual art.

Dr. Daily earned a Ph.D. in Religion and Education and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College, where she completed her doctoral studies with distinction. She also holds a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the College of the Holy Cross. Her unique combination of expertise in law, education, leadership, and ministry formation equips her to lead complex educational initiatives and foster innovative approaches to preparing religious leaders for service in the contemporary world.

Throughout her career, Dr. Daily has demonstrated a commitment to expanding access to high-quality theological education while cultivating transformative learning experiences that connect academic excellence, vocational discernment, and professional practice.