Westar Institute

Dr. SimonMary Asese Aihiokhai was born in Nigeria. He received his undergraduate education in philosophy at the Spiritan School of Philosophy, Nigeria (1997). He began his initial studies in theology at the Spiritan International School of Theology before migrating to the United States to continue his studies at Saint John Seminary, Camarillo, California. At Saint John Seminary he earned a graduate degree in theology with a focus in medical ethics (2007). Simon completed his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology at Duquesne University in Pittsburg, PA (2013). Dr. Aihiokhai is an Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Portland. He is the recipient of the University of Portland Outstanding Scholar Award for 2021, and he became a Scholar of the Westar Institute in 2023. Dr. Aihiokhai has worked extensively with communities at the margins of society in Nigeria and in the United States. He has held academic positions at Loyola Marymount University; Valparaiso University; and Saint Leo University. As a product of multiple contexts, he is intentional at creating spaces for multiple perspectives in his research and teaching. His scholarship focuses on Religion and Identity; African approaches to ethics; African philosophies, cultures, and theologies; religion and violence; comparative theology; themes in Systematic Theology; and interfaith studies. Dr. Aihiokhai will gladly tell you that at the heart of all that he does as a theologian lies his wish to create space for "God’s life to be experienced by all in our world." Dr. Aihiokhai is a member of the Westar Academic Council.