David Kwon, PhD, MBA, MDiv, MSW/AM — Faculty ; Associate Professor, Theology and Religious Studies ; Department of Theology and Religious Studies , College of Arts & Sciences ; Areas of Expertise: Moral Theology | Peace Studies | Social and Environmental Ethics | Healthcare, Business, and Technology | Asian and Asian American Theology and Ethics .

Dr. David Kwon is Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Seattle University, where he teaches and conducts research in moral theology, Catholic social thought, peace studies, social and environmental ethics, healthcare and business ethics, Asian and Asian American theology and ethics, and religion and technology.

He received his Ph.D. in Moral Theology from Boston College. He also holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University, an AM/MSW in Social Work and Social Policy, and an MDiv from the University of Chicago. Drawing on this interdisciplinary background, his scholarship explores the intersections of theology, ethics, public life, and social transformation from global and comparative perspectives.

His research focuses on Catholic social thought, just peace and postwar ethics, democratic transition and civic formation, Asian and Asian American theology and ethics, and the emerging relationship between religion and artificial intelligence. His first book, Justice after War: Jus Post Bellum in the 21st Century (The Catholic University of America Press, 2023), develops a constructive account of postwar justice through dialogue with moral theology, philosophy, international relations, and peace studies. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes on peace and conflict, Catholic social thought, environmental ethics, business ethics, healthcare ethics, race and gender justice, and Asian and Asian American theology. He is also the editor of the forthcoming volume Everyday Ethics and Everyday Practice: Asian and Asian American Theological Perspectives.

Before joining Seattle University, Dr. Kwon served as Assistant Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, where he received the College's Student Senate Teaching Award in 2021. He remains deeply grateful for the wonderful students, colleagues, and Midwestern hospitality he experienced during his years in Minnesota.

Originally from South Korea, Dr. Kwon enjoys outdoor activities, especially tennis, hiking, walking, hockey, kendo, and other sports involving racquets or sticks. Since moving to Seattle, he has also developed an appreciation for the city's rich coffee culture and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, especially contemplative walks by the water.

Featured Profiles and Interviews

Center for Human Rights and International Justice, Boston College (2024): "CHRIJ Alumnus David Kwon and the Importance of Ethics, Peacebuilding, and Moral Academia."

(https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/bc1/top-tier/centers/chrij/documents/CHRIJ-winter-24-newsletter.pdf)

David Kwon | Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church (catholicethics.com)

David Kwon | Association of Asian/North American Theological Educators (AANATE)