5 Students Share Why They’re Excited for August’s Interfaith Leadership Summit

Hometown: Purceville, Virginia

College/University & Graduation Year: Brigham Young University, Class of 2024

Major: Civil Engineering

Religious Affiliation/Worldview: I am a Christian, Bible believer, and Christ follower. I am non-denominational, although part of a Baptist congregation currently

Why did you decide to sign up for the Interfaith Leadership Summit?

I learned about this opportunity through the BYU religion department, more specifically through the Council for Interfaith Engagement, on which I serve as a student fellow. I decided to sign up for the Leadership Summit since it is an opportunity to gain knowledge that I can then bring back on campus and put to use to better serve others.

What are you looking forward to about the Summit?

I am looking forward to learning from other students and faculty that will be part of this Summit. I look at this as an opportunity to listen and take note on how others are making their campuses and places of influence more welcoming to other faiths. Through shared experience, I hope one can gain other skills on how to engage other faiths not only on campuses but in every sphere of life.

What does interfaith look like on your campus?

BYU mainly attracts students affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so only a small minority of students come from other faiths. However, the BYU religion department offers a platform for other faiths to feel welcome on campus. Our interfaith program includes student Summits, at times inviting students of other faiths from other universities to come and have a religious conversation on different beliefs. We also have a student chapter BYU Interfaith Student Association that helps in creating and fostering an environment where other faiths can feel comfortable.

What do you hope to learn that you can bring back to your campus?

I hope to learn what other people are doing and what has been working as far as interfaith endeavors are concerned. To me, it is an opportunity to not repeat mistakes and instead emulate their successes. I also hope to know more about other opportunities in the areas of interfaith and how I can continue to be a steward for such a cause.

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

College/University & Graduation Year: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Class of 2023

Major: Environmental Science, German

Religious Affiliation/Worldview: I grew up in an interfaith upbringing, so I identify with parts of both Lutheranism and Brazilian spirituality.

 Why did you decide to sign up for the Interfaith Leadership Summit?

At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, there is a Center for Religion and Global Citizenry that conducts a fellowship program of students in different years, majors, and faiths. The fellows meet weekly to discuss the core of our religions, as well as learn about each other’s faith traditions. After I completed one year as a fellow and was invited to become a senior fellow the following year, the professor in charge of the program suggested I attend the Interfaith America Summit to gain skills and leadership experience that could be incorporated into the program.

 What are you looking forward to about the Summit?

I am most looking forward to meeting people my age that are willing to talk about interfaith and gain new perspectives. Towards the end of the fellowship, the fellows had bonded and knew one another quite well; therefore, I am hoping that at the Summit, I can build the start of similar relationships and maintain those connections afterwards so that we can connect over our shared interest in the interfaith work that is a unique part of our identities.

 What does interfaith look like on your campus?

While interfaith is highly valued at the Center, there have been religious issues on campus that need improvement. For example, the start of an academic year began on Rosh Hashanah and another year finals fell during Ramadan. A lot of interfaith work seems to be dependent on individual departments, so creating an interfaith action plan would help provide students the confidence that their religious beliefs and holy days would be respected by the institution.

What do you hope to learn that you can bring back to your campus?

I would like to create an action plan on how to have conversations with professors and departments about implementing interfaith dialogues and consciousness into the school year. I think creating a model for interfaith work across campus is incredibly important, and I hope to integrate the knowledge I gain at the Summit towards this action plan.