Our Founder's Story
Dr. Ryan Topping is the Founder and Executive Director of the Gregory the Great Institute. He is thrilled to be serving with a wonderful team of staff and advisors. Here is a little about his story.
Ryan and his wife, Anna, grew up as Mennonites in Saskatchewan and British Columbia; they converted to Catholicism after a long search, help from many friends, and attending the funeral of John Paul II in Rome while studying at Oxford University.
After training to be a Mennonite pastor, and completing undergraduate work in classics, philosophy, and theology, Ryan completed an MA in philosophy at the University of Manitoba on Plato's account of human psychology.
Shortly after Ryan and Anna were married they helped to found an intentional Christian community, "Emmaus House," with several other dear friends near the downtown area of Winnipeg.
Ryan's next phase of formation was at Oxford where he studied under, among others, Oliver O‘Donovan, Fr. Aidan Nichols, O.P., and Sir Roger Scruton. His Masters work in theology focused on the theological foundations of modern political thought; his Doctoral work focused on St. Augustine's moral and educational philosophy.
During his years of doctoral formation he was influenced by such leading Catholic thinkers as John Finnis, Ralph McInerny, Fr. John Saward, Stratford Caldecott, and C.S. Lewis' last secretary, Walter Hooper.
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The Oxford Oratory, one time home to Cardinal Newman and Gerard Manley Hopkins, offered the Toppings their first experience of Catholic parish life. Even better than earning a doctorate, the Toppings returned home to North America in 2008 with their first sons, Peter and Joseph.
As a professor, Ryan helped establish the Catholic Studies Program at St. Thomas College (Saskatoon, SK), held the Chair in Catholic Studies at St. Thomas University (Fredericton, NB), then served as a Fellow at a classically-oriented Catholic Great Books college, the Thomas More College of the Liberal Arts, just north of Boston.
Feeling a strong tug to be nearer to family and to serve in the Church's intellectual apostolate nearer to home, the Toppings returned to Canada seven years ago, when Ryan took the position of Vice-President and Academic Dean at Newman Theological College, Edmonton, AB. Their family by this time had grown to 8 lovely children.
At Newman, Ryan helped the college solidify its accreditation status, establish its first BA in Catholic Studies, secure over 1 million dollars in funding for outreach programs, publish a first-of-its kind national study on newly ordained priests in Canada, and nearly double the college's student enrollment.
During these years Ryan helped launch other outreach initiatives at NTC including a yearly Faith and Reason Seminar for professionals, the John Paul II Leadership Camp for youth, and the Catholic Culture Internship program for students.
The Toppings are privileged to be a founding family of Campion Classical Academy, where Anna serves as the Administrator. Their eldest son, a graduate of Campion, is currently studying as a seminarian.
Ryan is a sought-after speaker and has published 11 books on Catholic culture and education and dozens of articles and interviews in outlets such as First Things, EWTN, Word on Fire, Crisis, Catholic World Report, National Catholic Register, Shalom Media and the Epoch Times.
Topping is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta).
