Events

Large Project Grant Leadership Gathering: May 16 & 17, 2023 –  1:00PM to 5:00 PM Eastern time (online) Description: This mandatory meeting is intended to better acquaint project leaders with Wabash Center staff and with the spectrum of projects in the grant cycle. During the conversation, grant leaders will: describe their project’s vision, aims and implementation strategies; get acquainted with Wabash reporting requirements; confirm dissemination strategies for projects; address ways their project might gain traction for institutional change in the context.

Large Project Grant Leadership Gathering: May 16 & 17, 2023 –  1:00PM to 5:00 PM Eastern time (online) Description: This mandatory meeting is intended to better acquaint project leaders with Wabash Center staff and with the spectrum of projects in the grant cycle. During the conversation, grant leaders will: describe their project’s vision, aims and implementation strategies; get acquainted with Wabash reporting requirements; confirm dissemination strategies for projects; address ways their project might gain traction for institutional change in the context.

2024 Virtual Teaching and Learning Workshop Design Thinking for Religious and Theological Educators Application Deadline: September 27, 2023 Schedule of Sessions All Sessions – 1:00 - 3:00 pm ET Session 1 - January 29, 2024 Session 2 - February 12, 2024 Session 3 - February 26, 2024 Session 4 - March 11, 2024 Session 5 - March 25, 2024 Session 6 - April 8, 2024 Leadership Rev. Stephen Lewis, President, Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) Participants Julius Bailey, University of Redlands Min-Ah Cho, Georgetown University Liam de los Reyes, Mount Angel Seminary Nick Elder, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary Barbara Fears, Howard University Kishundra King, Iliff School of Theology Andrew Krause, Associated Canadian Theological Schools of Trinity Western University Velma Love, Interdenominational Theological Center Elizabeth O’Donnell Gandolfo, Wake Forest University Divinity School K. Christine Pae, Denison University Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon Ashlyn Strozier, Georgia State University Jeanine Viau, University of Central Florida at Cocoa Maureen Walsh, Rockhurst University Wabash Center Staff Contact: Gina A. S. Robinson, PhD Associate Director Wabash Center 301 West Wabash Ave. Crawfordsville, IN 47933 robinsog@wabash.edu Description Educators and administrators of higher education are working tirelessly to navigate a rapidly changing environment accelerated by the effects of the global pandemic. Many are discovering how to adapt and design educational models and delivery systems for a changing industry. In a post-pandemic era, what does it mean to be teacher who employs design thinking? In what ways can design thinking help religious/theological educators and administers think, strategize, and implement new and different educational approaches? Please be mindful that participants will be expected to work on their own design projects between sessions. This online workshop invites religious and theological faculty from diverse academic disciplines to learn and experiment with design thinking methods in their work as educators and administrators. The six online sessions, with participants from diverse institutional contexts will: Examine what it means to foster greater design intelligence in their work Reflect on common challenges or constraints in developing new curriculum, educational programs or teaching initiatives Learn, practice, and develop next steps to incorporate design thinking methods in their work Sessions will include plenary and small group discussions as well as assignments between sessions to apply what participants learned. Participants will also pitch ideas for small project grant proposals up to $5,000 in order to develop next steps to practice what they learned in the workshop. After the conclusion of the online workshop, participants may opt to submit their developed grant proposal for consideration of funding. Goals To explore the tasks of teaching through the lens of design To nurture a community of learning and conversation around teaching and design To build confidence in applying design thinking principles to educators and administrators’ work context Participant Eligibility Tenure-track, tenured, continuing term, and/or full-time contingency Teaching religion, religious studies, or theology in an accredited college or university in the United States, Puerto Rico, or Canada. Job description or contract that is wholly for, or inclusive of, developing new curriculum or developing curriculum-related activities such as: degree/non-degree programs, co-curricular programs, new initiatives, new courses, revamping old courses, establishing laboratories or experimentation for teaching Institutional support and personal commitment to participate fully in all workshop sessions Participants must have the time availability to work on their own projects between sessions Application Materials Please complete and attach the following documents to the online application: Application Contact Information form Cover letter: An introductory letter describing:(a) your reasons for interest in this conversation on design thinking; (b) your institutional context and/or the class where design thinking principles could provide leverage and opportunity for enhancing and enriching your teaching and teaching life; (c) a possible curriculum, program, or teaching project for which this conversation might influence, impact or be of help. (250 to 300 words) Brief essay: Describe a recurring challenge or constraint in your institution which affects your work of teaching (beyond personnel/budget) that has hindered your developing or revising curriculum, courses, projects, or programs. Reflect on how the institutional challenge or constraint has impacted your teaching, teaching life, and how you imagine the discipline of design thinking would help address the challenge or constraint. (500-1000 words) Academic CV (4-page limit) A letter of institutional support for your full participation in this workshop from your Department Chair, Academic Dean, Provost, Vice President, or President. Please have this recommendation uploaded directly to your application according to the online application instructions. Honorarium Participants will receive an honorarium of $3,000 for full participation in the hybrid workshop. Read More about Payment of Participants Important Information Foreign National Information Form Policy on Participation

2024 Hybrid Teaching and Learning Workshop Early Career Theological Faculty Craft in the Teaching Life: Sustaining Pleasure throughout the Teaching Life Application Deadline: September 27, 2023 Schedule of Sessions All Virtual Sessions – 12:15 - 2:45 ET Session 1 - February 8, 2024 (virtual) Session 2 - March 14, 2024 (virtual) Session 3 - April 25, 2024 (virtual) In person: June 10-14, 2024 - Wabash Center on the campus of Wabash College Session 4 - August 1, 2024 (virtual) Session 5 - September 26, 2024 (virtual) Session 6 - October 24, 2024 (virtual) Leadership Team Katherine Turpin, PhD, Iliff School of Theology Willie Jennings, PhD, Yale Divinity School Participants Karri Alldredge, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Jennifer Aycock, Hood Theological Seminary Adam Bean, Milligan University Yara González-Justiniano, Vanderbilt University Deidre Green, Graduate Theological Union Joelle Hathaway, Bethany Theological Seminary Kathryn House, Meadville Lombard Theological School Emily Jendzejec,Loyola University New Orleans Sarah Kathleen Johnson, Saint Paul University Cody Sanders, Luther Seminary Megan Strollo, Union Presbyterian Seminary Nicole Sarita Symmonds, Columbia Theological Seminary Eric Williams, Duke University Rachel Wrenn, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University Wabash Center Staff Contact: Nancy Lynne Westfield, PhD Director Wabash Center 301 West Wabash Ave. Crawfordsville, IN 47933 westfiel@wabash.edu Description This hybrid workshop invites participants to explore the craft in teaching. Through conversations, artistic experimentation, and creative expression, we seek to discern how to sustain pleasure in a teaching life. We will consider sustaining pleasure through forming a healthy distance from one’s doctoral formation, gaining a strong sense of agency in one’s institution, engaging one’s discipline on one’s own terms, claiming one’s freedom in the classroom, and attending to the whole person as a teacher. Participants can expect to: Think alongside crafts persons and artisans about their creative process Explore artistic expression in their own lives Experience collegial work in an environment that is relaxing and restorative Imagine ways of teaching and learning that evoke curiosity, joy, and hope The hybrid workshop will gather for six online sessions and an in-person summer session at the Wabash Center in Crawfordsville, IN. Sessions will include small group and plenary discussions, structured and unstructured social time, and time for personal and communal growth, relaxation, restoration, and shared meals. Goals To identify those elements that sustain pleasure in the teaching life To cultivate a strong sense of agency and freedom in the teaching life, the classroom, and the institution To establish a practice of experimentation that aligns with their teaching commitments and values To develop a network of colleagues and co-collaborators as an ongoing resource for their teaching life Participant Eligibility Completed 1-5 years of teaching in a full-time, tenure track or other continuing position Doctoral degree completed by end of Spring 2022 Tenure decision (if applicable) no earlier than Spring 2026 Teaching in an accredited seminary or divinity school in the United States, Puerto Rico, or Canada Job description or contract that is wholly or primarily inclusive of teaching Application Materials Please complete and attach the following documents to the online application: Application Contact Information form Cover letter: Write a cover letter that describes why a Wabash workshop, given the diverse makeup of its participants, would be helpful to you at this point in your career. What role do you see peer colleagues and collaborators playing in your growth as an early career teacher and scholar? Brief essay: In 500 words or fewer, describe moments of pleasure in the teaching life that you hope to sustain throughout your career. Choose moments that bring us into your classroom, your particular discipline, and your institution. Academic CV (4-page limit) A letter of institutional support for your full participation in this workshop from your Department Chair, Academic Dean, Provost, Vice President, or President. Please have this recommendation uploaded directly to your application according to the online application instructions. Honorarium Participants will receive an honorarium of $3,000 for full participation in the hybrid workshop. Read More about Payment of Participants Important Information Foreign National Information Form Policy on Participation