Hans Gustafson selected for national interfaith teaching seminar

Hans Gustafson, associate director of the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning and adjunct professor of theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, has been selected from a nationwide pool of nominees to participate in the Teaching Interfaith Understanding seminar June 21-25 at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. 

The seminar is offered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) with support from the Henry Luce Foundation. 

Gustafson is one of 25 college and university professors participating in the seminar led by Catherine Cornille, professor of comparative theology at Boston College, and Noah Silverman, director of faculty partnerships at IFYC. The CIC/IFYC program aims to help participants strengthen their teaching of interfaith understanding and to develop new courses focused on this subject.

"Strengthening the teaching of interfaith understanding at colleges and universities is a high priority at a time when college enrollment - and American society - is becoming more diverse," said CIC President Richard Ekman. "Strengthening participation in American life with greater understanding of the distinctive contributions of different faiths is a key to America's future success."

According to John Merkle, director of the Jay Phillips Center, Gustafson excels at teaching comparative theology and fostering interfaith understanding.

"Hans has been immensely effective at course development and teaching, as well as at conceiving and facilitating extracurricular interfaith programs," Merkle said. "He is ideally suited for the prestigious interfaith seminar at Boston College."

The Jay Phillips Center serves CSB/SJU as well as the University of St. Thomas, where Gustafson is also an adjunct professor of theology.

"In his role as associate director, Dr. Gustafson has done truly outstanding work for the Jay Phillips Center and the schools it serves," wrote CSB/SJU Provost Rita Knuesel in her letter nominating Gustafson for participation in the seminar. "He has proven himself to be an excellent teacher and programmer, deeply learned about interfaith studies and effectively promoting interfaith understanding."

For more information about the CIC/IFYC seminar, visit www.cic.edu/TeachingInterfaith.