Student Projects

Faith-Focused Grief Support Goup for Teens

Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2021. By Marilee VanStam

Marilee is currently finishing a B.A. in Religious Studies at USU.

My Faith in a Minute Podcasts

12 youtube-based podcasts created for Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2021. By Kraig Peterson

Kraig is currently a chaplain candidate studying for a Master’s of Religious Education degree at BYU.

Faithful and Queer: Who is God for Me

Zoom-based event created for Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2021. 20 attendees, co-facilitated with Rev. Meghan Vail, First Presbyterian Church of Logan. By Abby Palfreyman.

Abby is currently in a Master’s program at NYU studying Gender, Culture, and Society. 

Racial Diversity and Justice: an Imam, a Pastor, and an Institute Teacher Discuss

Virtual event created for Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2021. Co-sponsored by the Veritas Forum and Neighborly Faith. Approximately 150 attended. By Christine Jetton.

Reorganization of USU Interfaith Student Association & Aggies Finding Peace

Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Fall semester 2020. By Nicky Jamison.

Nicky served as President of the USU Interfaith Association during her senior year on campus and revitalized the club’s service mission, hosting an interfaith service project and also coordinating an interreligious Thanksgiving program. Additionally, she co-organized an Interfaith Earth Day Festival with former Interfaith Fellow Kaden Dearing, and received awards from both Interfaith Youth Core and the USU Music Department during her tenure as an Interfaith Fellow. Nicky is currently studying for an MFA in music performance at the University of South Carolina where she founded the New Strings Quartet. 

Organization and Facilitation of a ‘Brave Space’ Dinner for members of Utah State University’s Interfaith Student Association and the Logan LDS Institute’s LDS Student Association

Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2020. By Kaden Dearing.

Kaden is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in anthropology at Utah State University.

Design and Facilitation of an R.A./Residence Life ‘Better Together’ Training

Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2020. By Cherie Wallace.

Cherie completed her studies at USU and now lives in Idaho Falls. 

Design and Delivery of a Virtual Overview of the Importance of Interfaith Dialogue for Incorporation into Introduction to Religious Studies Classes

Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2020. By Dawn Dimick.

Dawn worked on several other projects including designing and co-facilitating an Interfaith potluck dinner and developing a “five minute elevator pitch” about Interfaith programming for use by students and faculty at USU to help market this work. Dawn graduated in 2020 with a degree in Religious Studies, began a seminary program in Chicago and has since transferred to BYU to complete a Master’s in Religious Education as part of a Military Chaplain training program. 

Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2020. By Miles (Folsom) Larkin.

The new logos are used on all USU Interfaith Initiative programs and marketing materials. Miles is currently completing his degree in anthropology from USU.

Outreach to USU Religious Clubs/USUSA Student Religious Organizations and Creation of an Updated Directory

Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2020. By Cathy Gottschalk.

Cathy recently graduated with a second bachelor’s degree from USU and works for a social service agency in Preston, ID.

How My Orientation Around Religion Helps me Cope with COVID-19

Spring semester 2020. By Kaden Dearing, Cherie Wallace, Dawn Dimick, Miles Folsom, and Cathy Gottschalk.

Testimonials found on the USU Interfaith Fellows YouTube channel.

Formation and Facilitation of a Scriptural Reasoning Club at Utah State University

Interfaith Leadership Capstone Project, Spring semester 2019. By Anders Nilsson and Tanner McAllister.

Anders also co-organized a five-part faculty-led discussion series called “Pilgrimage” with Tanner. He recently completed his undergraduate degree in Religious Studies at Utah State University.

Tanner also co-organized a five-part faculty-led discussion series called “Pilgrimage.” He currently studies at Harvard Divinity School. 

Testing the Waters of Interfaith Cooperation at Utah State University

Capstone project presentation to Interfaith Advisory Council, (Utah State University, April). By Delbert Young.

1st Lt. Young completed his Master’s of Religious Education at BYU and now serves as an Army Chaplain. See his report on Interfaith Cooperation at USU.

Campus Climate Research

By Erica Hawvermale

Erica Hawvermale, was one of the USU Interfaith Initiative’s first student researchers She was involved in the initial campus climate research project that led to the foundation of the USU Interfaith Initiative as a Freshman Research Fellows. Her reports and presentations included the following, “Applying Anthropology for Student Betterment: Evolution and Impacts of an Interfaith Student Association,” paper presented at the Meetings of the Society for Applied Anthropology,” Vancouver, BC (April, 2016),  “Speed Faithing,” an Applied Anthropology Model for Developing Interfaith Literacy on a Public University Campus,” Society for Applied Anthropology, Pittsburgh (April, 2015, with Bonnie Glass-Coffin and student researcher Audrey George),  “The Interfaith Movement: Facilitating Change Through Anthropological Research,” Student Research Symposium, USU (April, 2015),  “Interfaith Cooperation on a Public University Campus: Challenges and Opportunities,” Utah Research on Capitol Hill (Jan, 2015, with student researcher Audrey George) and “Interfaith Cooperation on a Public University Campus: Challenges and Opportunities,” Utah Research on Capitol Hill (Jan, 2015 with student researcher Audrey George). She completed a Master’s degree in Applied Anthropology from the University of North Texas and now works as a Research Analysis in Dallas, TX for Aperio Insights.

Audrey George, was one of the USU Interfaith Initiative’s first student researchers She was involved in the initial campus climate research project that led to the foundation of the USU Interfaith Initiative. Her reports and presentations included the following, “Speed Faithing,” an Applied Anthropology Model for Developing Interfaith Literacy on a Public University Campus,” Society for Applied Anthropology, Pittsburgh (April, 2015, with Bonnie Glass-Coffin and student researcher Erica Hawvermale),  “ “Interfaith Cooperation on a Public University Campus: Challenges and Opportunities,” Utah Research on Capitol Hill (Jan, 2015, with student researcher Erica Hawvermale) and “Interfaith Cooperation on a Public University Campus: Challenges and Opportunities,” Utah Research on Capitol Hill (Jan, 2015 with student researcher Erica Hawvermale). She completed an MD degree at St. George’s University in Grenada in 2021 and currently works at a hospital in California. 

 

 

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