Political scholar Peter Augustine Lawler died Tuesday. In January, Lawler, an influential conservative writer, took over as editor of Modern Age, the quarterly journal published by the Greenville-based Intercollegiate Studies Institute. His debut issue was published this month.

Lawler, who wrote from a conservative Catholic perspective, was scheduled to appear at a panel discussion and reception celebrating his debut issue in Washington, D.C. today. The event was canceled.

ISI President Charles Copeland could not be reached for comment this morning, but, in an online message, he said “devastated” is an understatement in describing how the staff at ISI feels about Lawler’s death.

In addition to serving as editor of the journal, Lawler also mentored ISI students, served as one of its campus lecturers and taught ISI honors courses.