The Center for the Study of Catholic Higher Education will be blogging on events from World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, July 15-20. Katherine Thomas, a graduate student at Franciscan University of Steubenville, will be on site for The Center giving her first-hand account.

Thomas, a native of northern California, is studying for her M.A. degree in theology and catechetics. She received her undergraduate degree in film and television from Boston University, where she was active at the Catholic Center.

In 2005, she spent six months in Sydney studying Australian film, culture, art, architecture and literature. Katherine also attended World Youth Day in 2005 in Cologne, Germany, and recently returned from a semester abroad in Rome.

Joseph A. Esposito, director of The Center, said, “We are delighted that a university student with such extensive experience will be reporting on this important event. Katherine’s reports are sure to bring the thrill of World Youth Day to many people in the United States.”

The Center for the Study of Catholic Higher Education, a division of The Cardinal Newman Society, was launched earlier this year. It works with Catholic colleges and universities by providing cutting-edge research and sharing best practices.

Among other activities, The Center issues a quarterly Bulletin of Catholic Higher Education. It also publishes The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, which recommends 21 Catholic colleges and universities which most strongly promote their Catholic identity.

Katherine Thomas’ blog on World Youth Day and further information about The Center can be accessed by visiting the website www.CatholicHigherEd.org.