In the Spring of 1999, the Board of Trustees decided to endow the creation of an academic institute in recognition of the long-standing service of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales at Allentown College and as part of the retirement celebration for the Rev. Daniel G. Gambet, who served as the college's second president for twenty years. At its meeting in April 2000, the Board approved the details and formally established the Salesian Center for Faith & Culture.
The Salesian "Center" is distinct from, yet seeks to unite, various departments and offices on campus. Its programs and activities focus on matters of "faith and culture" as these exercise a mutual and reciprocal influence on life in the modern world. The fact that it is a "Salesian" center provides the essential and distinguishing characteristic of its work, namely its attention to the tradition of Salesian Christian Humanism that lies at the heart of the mission and philosophy of DeSales University.
Dedicated in January of 2004 and located at 6231 Landis Mill Road, the site features offices for the center's staff, a reading area including the center's library collections, and a conference room for meetings of groups associated with the center.
