Per our mission statement, WCU develops graduates to contribute to the common good, in part by helping students effectively and participate in civic discourse and engage inclusively in a diverse society.
Per our values statement, we affirm the worth and dignity of each member and the shared responsibility of all to treat each other as individuals, with respect and courtesy.
To further enact our mission and values, this project aims to develop a sustainable network of faculty, staff, students, and community members who support the diverse ways students orient around religious and philosophical worldviews in order to make meaning of their lives and connect to the world around them. Though interfaith efforts have been happening organically in various sectors of campus, a new project aims to bring these efforts together collaboratively under an increasingly formalized structure to support, equip, and celebrate interfaith leadership efforts. This new project is called the Interfaith, Meaning-Making, and Spirituality Project.
View the Religious Life Directory
The project is directed by
Dr. Zachary C. Wooten, Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies and
Dr. Matthew Pierlott, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Philosophy Department
with support from The Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance.
Goal of the Interfaith, Meaning-Making, and Spirituality Project
This project aims to build a sustainable structure of support for efforts related to interfaith, meaning-making, and spirituality through three primary initiatives:
The Student Interfaith Action Committee
- (a co-curricular committee)
- Led by Honors Sophomore Communication Sciences and Disorders Major Caitlyn Mullaney
- The Student Interfaith Action Committee exists to connect people of all worldviews, religions, backgrounds and life philosophies by partnering with on-campus and community organizations to facilitate dialogue and collective action.
- Click here to contact Caitlyn and join our committee!
The Faculty and Staff Interfaith Advisory Board
- The WCU Faculty & Staff Advisory Board exists to advocate for and holistically support West Chester University students, faculty, and staff as a means of building cultural competence and working for the common good. We do this by fostering religious pluralism as part of our understanding of diversity and inclusion while addressing xenophobia as well as both reducing and preventing harm.
- The Advisory Board is currently seeking a director or co-director and can resume operation once new leadership is identified. Please email Dr. Zach Wooten or Dr. Matt Pierlott if interested.
The Interfaith Leadership Fellows
- (a paid campus peer educator program housed in partnership with philosophy)
- The mission of the Interfaith Leadership Fellowship program is to equip undergraduate students with the needed skills to bridge religious and spiritual divisions within West Chester University by having a Pluralistic vision, acquiring knowledge, and developing the skill set to foster an understanding of different faiths, cultures, philosophies, and worldviews for the common good.
News
Interfaith Fellows
Skye Dreher
Skye is an undergraduate majoring in Integrative Biology in the Honors College at West Chester University. As an Interfaith Leadership Fellow, Skye helps promote understanding and connection across diverse faith and belief traditions through community engagement and outreach. Her interest in interfaith work began through her involvement with Young Life in her hometown of Buffalo, New York, where she first saw how faith and community can bring people together.
Through the Interfaith Leadership Fellowship, Skye has developed a deeper appreciation for collaboration among people of all religious, spiritual, and philosophical backgrounds. She looks forward to continuing to strengthen her communication and leadership skills while working with community partners.
Outside of her fellowship, Skye is a Girl Scout Silver and Gold Award recipient who enjoys spending time with friends and finding new ways to make a positive impact in her community.
Fun fact: Skye once helped organize a campus-wide event supporting a local shelter through wellness care packages and student-led outreach.
Liam McDonnell (He/Him)
Liam is an undergraduate majoring in business management. As an Interfaith Leadership
Fellow,, Liam is responsible for the social media outreach to the West Chester community.
Liam attended Catholic school and the opportunity to think about the impact of religion
on identity sparked his interest to join the Interfaith Leadership Fellowship. Liam
is looking forward to work with community partners and different religious leaders
to improve his communication skills. Becoming an interfaith fellow has allowed Liam
to gain the knowledge working with people of all different religious, spiritual, and
philosophical backgrounds. Liam spends most of his time hanging out with his friends
and takes part in a fundraising group called the Ancient Order of The Hibernians.
This Irish group of men work in the Doylestown community and put together events for
those in need.
Fun Fact: Liam started all four years on his high school basketball team.
Faculty Highlight
Dr. Zachary Wooten, Dr. Matthew Pierlott, and WCU Alumna Lizzie Gittleson published an article in the Journal of Leadership Education about the first woman to be ordained as a Rabbi.
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