College of Arts and Science
The Department of Comparative Religion
Alumni Newsletter
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Miami students in Oman and the United Arab Emirates
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The Department of Comparative Religion equips students to understand how religions impact individuals and societies. In virtually all cultures, throughout recorded history and into the present, religious has been a powerful dimension of social, political, and economic life. It has also had enormous impact on literature, the arts, and human thought.
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Message from the Chair
James C. Hanges
Dear Alumni and Friends:
The 2016-2017 academic year was by any measure a success, and I would like to thank each of you who contributed to that success. 
Our initial participation in the #MoveInMiami fundraiser doubled the number of individuals who have donated to the Department and contributed over $3,000 to the Rappleye Scholarship for students majoring in Comparative Religion. We have enthusiastic new members on our Alumni Advisory Board, now chaired by Jennifer Sanka. 
The Department continues to provide travel scholarships for students participating in the Oman winter term workshop. In addition, we have initiated a new program of Experiential Learning Grants to help our students apply what they’ve learned in field experiences. 
Finally, I am pleased to report that in 2016-2017, the number of religion majors nearly doubled.  
Our successes this academic year owe much to our alumni, and I want to thank each of you for helping us make the Department the best it can be. Please stay connected through our website and social media, or contact me directly. I am always delighted to hear from a member of our alumni family. 
James C. Hanges
Chair and Professor
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Accomplishments of 2016-2017
Seven majors in Comparative Religion graduated in May 2017. Read what's next for them.
Our study abroad program in the Arabian Gulf keeps growing! This year, 17 Miami students traveled to Oman and the United Arab Emirates to observe firsthand how religion, culture, government, and business intersect in these dynamic societies. A fifth trip is scheduled for January 2018. View photos of the program.
The Comparative Religion Student Association sponsored four events in spring 2017. 
This year’s endowed Wickenden and Puff lectures were remarkably well attended. The visiting lecturers spoke about human rights and medical science and religion and the U.S. security state.
At the department’s annual awards ceremony, we announced the recipients of the Forshey, Booth, Ward, and Miller Awards. Also, we inducted four new members into Theta Alpha Kappa and granted a TAK Undergraduate Achievement Award. Find out which students were honored.
Kelsi Sievering
Religion major Kelsi Sievering has been named a Dean’s Scholar. The College of Arts and Science has awarded her funding for an independent research project on the speeches of former imam Anwar al-Awlaqi, who has inspired terror attacks in the U.S. Read more about Kelsi’s project.
Our faculty’s activities this year included speaking with students about the Muslim immigration ban, publishing a book on Mormonism in American society, hosting an international conference marking the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, and collaborating with select scholars to explore the theme “Medicine and the Humanities.” Read more.
Jennifer Sanka (’01), Chair
CRAAB Report 
By Jennifer Sanka (’01), Chair
The Comparative Religion Alumni Advisory Board held our annual on-campus meeting in March. We met with students, faculty, and representatives from the Development Office.
During the meeting, the Board made plans for the 2017 #MoveInMiami initiative. During #MoveInMiami 2016, we raised funds for the Rappleye Scholarship, an award for religion majors. We look forward to participating again on August 24, 2017. 
We’re also organizing a Career Path Panel for students, to debut on October 20, 2017. Several Board members will travel to Miami to discuss how the study of religion helped them achieve career success. 
We look forward to continuing our service to the department’s students! Connect with our alumni online via our LinkedIn and Facebook pages.
Experiential Learning Grants:
A new way to prepare our students to excel 
Starting this year, students can apply to our department for grant money to fund special research projects, conference travel, or study away experiences. These grants are available to religion majors; applications from minors will be considered in special circumstances.
How much funding we can provide through these Experiential Learning Grants depends on how much our department has available in discretionary funds. Giving by alumni increases the pool of available funds. 
During the 2016-2107 school year, the department awarded two Experiential Learning Grants:
Sarah Kammer (’17), a double major in religion and anthropology with a minor in archaeology, received $1000 to help fund a month-long field school in Israel. There she will help excavate the ancient city of Akko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Reagan Brown (’20), a psychology major minoring in religion, received $400 in travel funds. She will accompany Dr. Hillel Gray to Kansas to help him conduct interviews with members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church.
#MoveInMiami
Coming in August: #MoveInMiami
#MoveInMiami is a fundraiser held each August, on Move-in Day. 
For #MoveInMiami 2016, our department’s alumni raised $3,000 for the Rappleye Scholarship, given each year to a religion major. 
More info about our #MoveInMiami campaign for 2017 is coming soon!
Department of Comparative Religion
College of Arts and Science at Miami University
200 Upham Hall 
Oxford, OH 45056 
513-529-4300 
religion@MiamiOH.edu
© 2017 Miami University
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