Greetings from the Academic Dean

 

Dear Friends,

The world has forever changed and is still changing. Prior to 2020, we never could have imagined how COVID-19, would impact our lives and the world. To be honest, I don’t think we will know the full extent for some time. In addition, as we all witnessed the murder of George Floyd, as a nation we could no longer deny the reality of the other pandemic of systematic racism in North America. One thing is clear, we can’t go back. As we muster the courage of faith to move forward, there is important work to be done.

As we slowly (and hopefully) emerge from under COVID-19’s shadow and continue to work for justice for all, Hartford Seminary is striving to make a difference by educating and training religious leaders who are committed to deepening interreligious relationships and working for peace. Hartford Seminary has developed three new accredited Master programs that will provide opportunities for students to acquire new knowledge, necessary skills, and unique sensitivities to assist them in providing religious leadership and ministry opportunities in service of others.

An academic Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies (MAIRS) will steep students in the reality of a multifaith world. This degree will provide students with knowledge, experience, and awareness of the interaction of different religious traditions in North America and provide grounding to grow in knowledge of their own tradition in relation to others. Graduates may lead their own religious communities in our religiously plural nation, work for social service organizations that serve multiple religious communities, teach others about the importance of interreligious sensitivities, or prepare themselves for further study in religion or theology.

A professional Master of Arts in International Peacebuilding (MAP) gathers a cohort of international and American students who live and learn together to develop skills in peacebuilding and mediation between communities and individuals. It is a one-year, full-time experiential learning program that is fully funded for accepted students.

Finally, a professional Master of Arts in Chaplaincy (MAC) acknowledges a world which needs chaplains who meet the spiritual, emotional, and social needs of not only established religious communities of faith but individuals of any and no faith during times of transition and crisis. This program builds on the foundation and success of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program developed 20 years ago. Students of any and no faith tradition can complete the MAC in addition to the MAIRS for 72 hours of graduate credit. This program will position graduates for service in the world with academic preparedness and practical training.

To deliver these types of programs you need a top-notch faculty. Thankfully, at Hartford Seminary, you will find a faculty unlike any other, a multi-faith faculty with high academic caliber and practical-professional training. I invite you to browse our web pages, explore our areas of expertise, and determine if there is an opportunity for you!

I invite you to consider what your next step might be in this changed and changing world. Mar Haba! Welcome!

Sincerely,

The Rev. Dr. David D. Grafton, Ph.D.
Academic Dean

 

Bilal W. Ansari Faculty Associate in Muslim Pastoral Theology	Brian Clark Faculty Associate in World Christianity	Lisa Clayton Black Ministries Program Instructor
Odell Montgomery Cooper Black Ministries Program Instructor	Andrew Gardner Visiting Faculty Associate of American Religious History	David D. Grafton Academic Dean & Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations
Deena Grant Associate Professor of Jewish Studies	Hans A. Harmakaputra Visiting Assistant Professor in Comparative Theology and Muslim-Christian Relations	Hossein Kamaly Associate Professor of Islamic Studies
Suheil Laher Faculty Associate in Qur'anic Studies	Joel N. Lohr President & Professor of Bible and Interreligious Dialogue	Jean Amos Lys Black Ministries Program Instructor
Phoebe Milliken Faculty Associate in International Peacebuilding	Lucinda Mosher Faculty Associate in Interfaith Studies	Allison Norton Faculty Associate in Migration Studies and Congregational Life
Michael Piazza Faculty Associate in Congregational Renewal	Donna Schaper Faculty Associate in Religious Leadership	C.L. Stallworth Black Ministries Program Instructor
Patricia Tevington HIRR Postdoctoral Research Fellow	Scott Thumma Professor of Sociology of Religion	Benjamin Watts Faculty Associate in Religion and Community Life
Timur Yuskaev Associate Professor of Contemporary Islam	Mahmoud Ayoub Honorary Faculty Associate in Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations	Adair Lummis Honorary Faculty Associate in Research