Cornerstone Names Dr. William A. Dembski Distinguished Scholar in Math & Philosophy of Science
Cornerstone University has appointed Dr. William A. Dembski as its first Distinguished Scholar of Mathematics and Philosophy of Science, effective April 1, 2026. A world-renowned mathematician, philosopher, and pioneer in information theory, Dr. Dembski will join the faculty to help students and faculty engage the growing questions surrounding artificial intelligence, human intelligence, and what it means to be an image bearer of God in a rapidly changing world.
Holding doctorates in mathematics from the University of Chicago and philosophy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Dr. Dembski’s career has been defined by a quest to quantify the "signatures of intelligence" in nature. He has authored or edited more than 25 books and is widely recognized for his seminal work, The Design Inference (originally published by Cambridge University Press), which recently saw a major 25th-anniversary expansion in 2023 that applies his work to contemporary questions in cosmology and artificial intelligence.
“We are thrilled to have one of the most important Christian intellectuals and scholars of the last three decades – Dr. Dembski – join Cornerstone University ” said President Gerson Moreno-Riaño. “His ground breaking work stands at the intersection of mathematics, philosophy, theology and technology — and most notably, evidence of intelligent design. As artificial intelligence and technology rapidly transform every field, his interdisciplinary scholarship will strengthen how we prepare students with a sophisticated application of a Christian worldview to disciplines that often exclude Biblical truth and to a market that desperately needs it.”
In this role, Dembski will contribute to The Cornerstone Core™, engaging all students regardless of major as part of their general education experience. He will support faculty development, curriculum, and connect with students through guest lectures, mentorship in the Honors Program and select teaching opportunities.
Dr. Dembski shared this about his recent appointment, “Cornerstone University is a centerpiece in the renewal of intellectual integrity and sound theology within Christian higher education, and I’m honored as a newly appointed Distinguished Scholar of Mathematics and Philosophy of Science to be part of Cornerstone’s mission.”
Dembski’s appointment comes at a critical moment as higher education confronts the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and its implications for human identity. His current research explores “intelligence metrics,” examining how intelligence is recognized and measured in both biological and artificial systems — questions that, at Cornerstone, are engaged through a Christ-centered understanding of truth, humanity, and God’s created order.
In addition to his academic research, Dembski is a tech entrepreneur and a Founding Senior Fellow of the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. He has previously held teaching and research positions at Baylor University, Northwestern University, and the University of Notre Dame.
Dembski’s work will engage Cornerstone students across every field of study, challenging them to grapple with what it means to know, to reason and ultimately what it means to be a human created by God — questions that influence how they lead, make decisions and serve in their careers and in the broader culture.
For more information about Dr. Dembski’s role or to explore Cornerstone University’s 65-plus on-campus and online career-ready degrees and certificates, contact admissions@cornerstone.edu or call 616.222.1426.
