Philosophy, Religion Students Collaborate in “Interfaith America Magazine” Publishing

University of Indianapolis students Cassara Randall and Ethan Lohman were recently at American Journal of Interfaith. Dr. James Willis, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religious Practice at Indianapolis University, supervised the students and assisted them in their publication work.Dr. Willis said, “In the summer of 2022, I attended a conference on teaching interfaith understanding interfaith americaOne of my meeting goals is to develop different perspectives in order to teach FYS182: Love, Death, and Religion to incoming first-year students. During the conference, I had a brief discussion with the editor of Interfaith America Magazine, where I floated the idea of ​​writing with my students. “

Writing is important to Dr. Willis because he says it is an “integral” part of his FYS curriculum. “One skill that college requires is excellent writing, so I want to prepare my students for success later in life,” Dr. Willis said. “I guide their writing progress through a series of low-stakes ‘experience portfolios’ in which they recall and reflect on their various experiences with religious communities in the Indianapolis area. I also wanted to offer a different ways to improve your writing.”

Ethan Lohman is proud of his accomplishments and the doors he has opened for the future. “Published on interfaith america It’s a huge achievement for me, fulfilling a lifelong dream I’ve had since I was a kid – to be a writer and an actor,” Ethan said. An unparalleled sense of accomplishment was ignited in my heart. This incredible milestone would not have been possible without the invaluable help and keen guidance of Dr. Willis. He acted as my agent, introducing me to publishers and facilitating the publishing process while I focused on producing the accompanying story. I am very grateful for his support. “

The experience not only helped Ethan improve his research skills, but also his confidence in writing. “Dr. Willis undeniably shaped my future and provided me with a springboard and valuable writing experience,” Ethan said. “Now, I can confidently present my work to anyone who is interested in my writing skills and let them judge for themselves. Anyway, this is just my first chance at UIndy and I can’t wait.”

“While writing with professors is common in graduate school, writing with professors as an undergraduate is rare,” Dr. Willis said. “I hope all my students benefit from this experience and from the possibility of publishing at the national level. Together, Cassara and Ethan have demonstrated two different classroom performances, demonstrating personal and academic growth. I Very proud of what Cassara and Ethan have accomplished!”