Commons Questions: What about your work do you find most beautiful?
Donald Quist, Wabash Center / University of Missouri
Additional authors: Gabrielle Thomas, Brian Hillman, Andrew P. Wilson, Wonchul Shin, Joshua Ryoo, Sonya S. Cronin
Welcome back to Common Questions! In this series, we bring together some of the most esteemed scholars and educators in the field to engage with a central, thought-provoking question. The goal is to challenge and inspire. By exploring these questions, we hope to create a dynamic platform for scholarly dialogue, illuminate complexities in education, and enhance our understanding of the transformative power of teaching and learning in these vital disciplines. Featuring a diverse range of perspectives, this effort is a means of expanding the borders of academic rigor with profound spiritual and philosophical inquiry.
This time, we asked…
What about your work do you find most beautiful?
What would it take to plan for more of this kind of beauty in your work?
Gathered here are responses from:
Sonya Cronin, Florida State University / The Carrier Pigeon Post
Joshua Ryoo, Azusa Pacific University
Gabrielle Thomas, Emory University
Brian Hillman, Towson University
Andrew P. Wilson, Mount Allison University
Wonchul Shin, Villanova University
If you are interested in sharing you response to this prompt or future Common Questions, please reach out to our blogs editor, Donald E. Quist at quistd@wabash.edu.
About Gabrielle Thomas
Gabrielle Thomas serves as the Dean and President of the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Her scholarly work focuses primarily on historical theology, in particular fourth-century Christian thought, and is fueled by a commitment to considering the implications of historical theology for contemporary theology, and to enriching the life of the Church today. She is the author of two books: For the Good of the Church: Unity, Theology, & Women (SCM Press, 2021); The Image of God in the Theology of Gregory of Nazianzus (Cambridge University Press, 2019). Her public writing is published online in journals and blogs such as Seen&Unseen, The Living Church, Earth & Altar, and SCM Press Blog. You can learn more about her story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa3yNDAoDR0
About Brian Hillman
Brian Hillman (he/him) is an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Towson University in Towson, MD. His research focuses on the areas of modern Jewish thought, Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), religion and literature, and popular culture. His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in the Journal of Jewish Identities, Jewish Studies Quarterly, Religious Studies Review, and the Jewish Book Council. He also serves as the managing editor for the Journal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy.
About Andrew P. Wilson
Andrew P. Wilson is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Mount Allison University in the Canadian Maritimes. Guided by the principle that “together we’re smarter,” his teaching and scholarship thrive on building connections – between people, ideas, and communities. In the classroom, he bridges seemingly distant worlds, bringing popular culture into dialogue with religious doctrine to dissolve boundaries, shift perspectives, and spark fresh insights. Beyond campus, he works with a wide range of community partners to foreground collaboration and engagement in learning. His research explores the intersections of religion, culture, and creativity, with publications ranging from Critical Entanglements: Postmodern Theory and Biblical Studies (Brill, 2019) to recent work weaving together family story, biblical text, and contemporary art. In recognition of his innovative teaching and leadership, he received the 3M National Teaching Fellowship in 2021, Canada’s highest honor for excellence in education.
About Wonchul Shin
Wonchul Shin (Ph.D., Emory University) is a Catherine of Siena Teaching Fellow at Villanova University where he teaches undergraduate courses in ethics and philosophy. Prior to Villanova, he taught graduate courses at Columbia Theological Seminary and Candler School of Theology, Emory University. His book, Moral and Theological Virtues of the Oppressed: Practicing Salim in the Face of Violence, is forthcoming in 2026 with Bloomsbury. He has published peer-reviewed articles in the Journal of Christian Ethics, Theology Today, and Interpretation.
About Joshua Ryoo
Joshua Ryoo, Ed.D. serves as chair of the Educational Leadership, EdD program and as an assistant professor. He teaches courses in qualitative research methods and research writing, striving to support students in developing their scholarly skills. He has been honored with awards including the Scheffler Award, and Proposal Distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has had the privilege of collaborating with educational leaders in diverse contexts, including organizations such as OECD, APEC, and UNESCO.
About Sonya S. Cronin
Dr. Sonya S. Cronin is a lecturer at Florida State University and teaches for their International Programs in London and Florence. She is the founder of The Carrier Pigeon Post, a nonprofit periodical that sends hope and help into prisons by means of stories and humanities education. She is author Repentance of YHWH: Mark’s Gospel of Universal Inclusion with Fortress Press.