BA in Humanities

Outstanding Faculty Awards & Research

• Tom Parker: Outstanding Online Instruction Award 2013
• Jed Wyrick: Outstanding Academic Advisor in 2012
• Sarah Pike: Visiting scholar at University of Oslo; funded by Reassembling Democracy: Ritual as a Cultural Resource (REDO) 2015
• Laura Nice: Spent time in Dublin researching the Seamus Heaney Papers in the National Library of Ireland 2015
• Jed Wyrick: Elected as At-Large Senator
• Sarah Pike: Participated in Wonder and the Natural World Conference (Sponsored by Consortium for the Study of Religion, Ethics and Society at Indiana University) in 2016
• Greg Cootsona: Received $2M Grant for director of a three-year project entitled Science and Theology for Emerging Adult Ministries (or STEAM) 2016
• Corey Sparks: Received technology grant from the CSU Chancellor's Office for the introduction of a digital timeline tool into the Humanities 220 curriculum
• Patricia "Micki" Lennon: Received "Taking it to the Classroom" Award 2017–18, which recognizes an outstanding faculty member who possesses the courage and creativity required to successfully engage diversity issues in the classroom
• Jason Clower: Participated in the 2017 international conference, "The Awakening of Faith and New Confucianism," funded by a half-million dollar grant from the Australian government, a grant for which he is one of the Principle Investigators

Program Highlights

• Why Comparative Religion and Humanities? (PDF)
• Center for the Public Understanding of Religion(opens in new window)

Student and Alumni Highlights

Lft to Rt: Tivon Lewis-Quigley, Brayden Crosswhite, Chandler Conner, Samantha Nickel, Clara Bergamini, Molly Sullivan, David Reese, Laurie Ratterree, Colby Knox, Alex Seltzer, Mark Campos, Alex Diaz & Cody Bell

• Sarah Nimmo Gagnebin: Alumna Lecturer for Religious Studies (CSU, Chico)
• Alexandra Kokkonakis: Alumna Lecturer for Sociology (CSU, Chico)
• Michael Riser: Received 2018 Bix Whitcomb Study Abroad Award
• Lauren Skousen -Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost (Utah State University)
• Marie Rasitera: Master of Arts in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies at Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS)
  
• Heather Coons: Secondary School Teacher for Lodi Unified School District
• Brandyn Gibson: is working for Black Hills State University in the office of Residence life as the Judicial Officer. Aside from that, he is also the Hall Director for the Campus Apartments.
• Eric Garabay: received a $3000 scholarship to help him fund his studies abroad at Florianopolis University in Brazil in Portuguese.
• Ally Wilson: completed her graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary.
• Michelle Nation: is teaching at a private school in San Jose.
• Jeff Veitch: received an M.A.in Biblical Studies from the Graduate Theological Union, an M.A. in Classical Art and Archaeology from King's College London, and is currently working on his PhD in Archaeology at the University of Kent.
• Andrew Lavin: published "The Theological Use of Infinity" in Dialogue in 2011. Dialogue is the official journal of Phi Sigma Tau, the International National Honor Society in Philosophy
• Luke Ham: received his M.Div. from the Pacific School of Religion and is now Pastor at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church.
• Erin Goldfarb: (B.A. in Religious Studies and Art History, 2006) is Assistant Director of Development for the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Northridge.
• Whitney Thayne: is a Wardrobe Attendant at Wynn Las Vegas.
• Colleen Garrett: completed an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language at the School for International Training, Graduate Institute . She is currently a Design Manager for Kathy Davis Associates, Inc., an Acculturation Specialist for Catholic Charities Migration & Refugee Services, and a Program Assistant for Public Consulting Group.
• Jillian Zarifis: is a Global Mobility Specialist at Palantir Technologies.
• Holly Gocka, Tova Love, Melissa Rehrig: Attended 2015 Global Parliament of the World's Religions (Salt Lake City, Utah):

"I have seen 2000-year-old Buddhist cave carvings, cerebral old men flowing through a qigong session, and crumbling remnants of Confucian temples that were demolished during the cultural revolution and I have found my ability to grasp the value of these aspects of Chinese culture greatly aided by the knowledge and experience I gathered as a Religious Studies student. My Religious Studies education is also responsible for fostering in me a deep curiosity that is ultimately what drove me to pursue my job in the first place, allowing me to enter into the fascinating and unique world of China." —Rick Niese, CSU Chico, Religious Studies Alumni

Recent Faculty Publications