All Faculty and Staff

Rector and CEO of SMAC since 2016, Fr. Patrick Rutledge supervises all aspects of the parish of over 4,000 members, serves as head of the Academy grades K-12, and President of the College, leading the SMAC staff of over 250 and a combined student population of nearly 900 young souls. In addition to these responsibilities, from 2017 to 2023 he was the overall project manager for the 42-million-dollar construction of the “New Immaculata,” the largest Catholic church in the Kansas.

Dr. Joseph Strong, currently the Academic Dean at St. Mary’s College, teaches Physical Science and College Mathematics. Beyond his College duties Dr. Strong continues to assist in the educational mission of the SSPX as teacher and Science Department Head at St. Mary’s Academy, and a lecturer during the SSPX Catholic Teacher Seminars.

Dr. Andrew Childs serves currently as Administrative Dean, Humanities Chair, and Professor of Music and Communications at St. Mary’s College, and an Assistant to the SSPX Director of Education for the United States District. He earned his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of California, Irvine, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington where he published his dissertation on the music of Charles Ives.

Over the last 36 years, Father has been a professor at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in the United States, at St. Cure d’Ars Seminary in France, and at Holy Cross Seminary in Australia. Father now shares his knowledge and experience as a professor at St. Mary’s College.

Fr. Paul Franks teaches courses in the philosophy of nature and Apologetics. He studied for the priesthood at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Minnesota, taking courses in Philosophy and Theology, and was ordained in 2016. After his ordination he was appointed to St. Mary’s College and has been there ever since. During his time in seminary, he directed the polyphonic choir and oversaw the organ department for four years each. 

Fr. Wood entered St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary of the Society of St. Pius X in Winona, MN, where he remained after his ordination in 2009 to teach English grammar, Latin, and liturgy. Encouraged by the seminary Rector, Fr. Yves le Roux, he spent several summers in France learning French in different regions and schools, including the Sorbonne in Paris, as well as two summers in Milwaukee, WI perfecting his Latin at Latinitatis Schola Aestiva Milvauchiensis under the guidance of former Papal Latinist, Fr. Reginald Foster.

“. . . teachers who think they have a part in the redemption of society will have to desert certain primrose paths of dalliance and begin the difficult, the dangerous, work of teaching men to speak and to write the truth” (Richard M. Weaver Language is Sermonic 198).

Inspired by the philosophy and practice of classical rhetoric as defined by Richard Weaver, Mrs. Childs endeavors to introduce students to “the mighty power of symbolism” (Language is Sermonic 53) in the poetry of ancient Greece and Rome and to “the art of soul-leading by means of words” (Weaver The Ethics of Rhetoric). Over the course of more than thirty years of professional experience either as a writing “coach” for students or as an editor for published authors, she has acquired a scholarly interest in the instruction of rhetoric, composition, and prosody.

Dr. Matthew Childs teaches literature primarily in the latter part of the St. Mary’s College curriculum. He earned a Bachelor of Science in English with Distinction from the US Naval Academy, a Master of Arts in English from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Doctor of Philosophy in English from the University of South Carolina

A native of Colorado, Professor Clarendon attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in English Literature. After serving onboard two surface ships, he returned to the Naval Academy to teach Literature and Composition. He also has a Master of Arts in English Literature from the Catholic University of America. After leaving the Navy, he was one of the original faculty members at La Salette Boys Academy in Olivet, Illinois. He joined the faculty of Saint Mary’s College in 2010.

Daniel Gresham is a history professor at St. Mary’s College. He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he enjoyed the region’s outdoors and athletics like wrestling and rugby. Today, he and his wife cooperate in the arduous and beautiful art of raising their eight children.

A love for Catholic culture and medieval traditions inspires Dr. Louis Shwartz’ interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research. He has taught a variety of college courses, ranging from Latin to Medieval Literature to Early Modern History, collaborating with over 500 unique undergraduate students. In addition to these academic adventures, his wife and seven children keep him very busy, and very happy.

Emilie Jordan Jackson grew up in northern Virginia, in the shadow of the nation’s capital. A proud alumna of Saint Mary’s College, Emilie graduated as her class’s valedictorian in 2005. She has taught at Saint Mary’s College since 2008.

An alumnus of St. Mary’s College, Devon McCarthy graduated with an A.A. in Liberal Arts in 2008 and Certificate of Catholic Teacher Education in 2010. He also attended Kansas State University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Physics in 2016. Devon began teaching Calculus at St. Mary’s College 2017.

Father Nicholas Gardner was ordained to the priesthood in 2012 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary, in Winona, MN. His work as a priest has been divided mainly between teaching in the Boys’ Schools, and pastoral care of Young Adults in SSPX communities.

As the College Registrar and the Administrative Secretary of the Rector, Mrs. Sulzen brings many years of experience in administration and accounting to manage a wide range of services for the students, the faculty, and the deans, while at the same time supporting the Rector, and serving her large family.

After graduating from SMC in 2018, Jessica went on to pursue her interest in science in the field of textile engineering. After obtaining a Masters degree, she now works engineering designs for future space suits and space habitats. She brings her experience in financing her undergraduate and graduate studies back to her Alma Mater to help current SMC students follow in her successful footsteps.