Asbury University’s Shaw School of Sciences welcomed attorney and pastor Joe Infranco to campus Sept. 24 for the inaugural Walt Shaw Distinguished Lecture, a new annual event encouraging thoughtful dialogue at the intersection of scientific inquiry and Christian faith.
During his visit, Infranco spent time with Shaw School of Sciences students and faculty through conversations, meals and informal gatherings before delivering the Walt Shaw Distinguished Lecture in the Shaw Collaborative Learning Center Auditorium. His time on campus provided opportunities for students to engage personally with Infranco and explore questions spanning science, faith, law, culture and human experience.
The visit reflected the purpose of the new lecture series: creating opportunities for the Asbury community to encounter ideas across disciplines while considering how rigorous scholarship and Christian faith can inform one another.
Infranco serves as Pastor of Adult Education at Highlands Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Before entering pastoral ministry, he enjoyed a distinguished legal career spanning several decades as a litigator, specializing in the defense of churches, religious liberty and constitutional rights.
For 18 years, Infranco served as Senior Attorney and Vice President at Alliance Defending Freedom, where he led and trained a nationwide network of attorneys dedicated to protecting religious freedom and other fundamental liberties. He has testified before Congress and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and maintains a deep interest in apologetics, worldview studies and contemporary cultural issues.
His interdisciplinary interests also extend to the relationship between faith and science. More recently, Infranco has explored the scientific validity of innovative approaches to working with individuals on the autism spectrum. His work contributes to broader conversations about the relationship among empirical inquiry, human experience and spiritual understanding.
In addition to the evening lecture, Infranco met with faculty in the Shaw School of Sciences, shared lunch and dinner with students and faculty, and participated in an afternoon gathering in the Shaw CLC SEARCH Studio. He concluded his visit by attending Chapel in Hughes Auditorium the following morning.
Established in 2026 in memory of distinguished alumnus and namesake of the Shaw School of Sciences, the Walt Shaw Distinguished Lecture brings a leading scientific thinker to Asbury University during the fall semester. Rooted in the liberal arts tradition, the lecture fosters curiosity and thoughtful dialogue across the sciences, inviting exploration of truth. It offers students, faculty and the broader community a unique opportunity to engage with ideas while advancing a commitment to both scientific excellence and faithful inquiry.
Learn more about the Asbury Shaw School of Sciences. Learn more about the Asbury Department of Biology & Chemistry.
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