News

Lee University is pleased to announce that Dr. Edley Moodley, professor of Intercultural Studies at Lee, has been selected from a nationwide pool of nominees to participate in a faculty seminar on the teaching of interfaith understanding. The seminar is offered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), with support from the Henry Luce Foundation.

“I am pleased to represent Lee University at this seminar,” said Moodley. “Since America has become the most diverse and religiously plural society in the world today, interfaith learning has become an urgent priority for higher education, and I believe this seminar is one building block in pursuit of the goal of interfaith literacy.”

Twenty-five faculty members representing private campuses across the nation will participate in the five-day Teaching Interfaith Understanding seminar that will take place August 3-7 at DePaul University in Chicago, Ill. The seminar will be led by two leading scholars, Eboo Patel, founder and president of IFYC, a Chicago-based organization building the interfaith movement on college campuses, and Laurie Patton, dean of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and the Robert F. Durden Professor of Religion at Duke University.

“Strengthening the teaching of interfaith understanding at colleges and universities is a high priority at a time when college enrollment is becoming more diverse – by religion, as well as socioeconomic factors – just as American society is becoming more diverse. Strengthening participation in American life with greater understanding of the distinctive contributions of different faiths is key to America’s future success.” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “The number of institutions that nominated faculty members to participate in the new interfaith understanding seminar is most impressive.”

The seminar will broaden faculty members’ knowledge and strengthen their teaching of interfaith understanding, with the development of new courses and resources.

“Because of his background, experience, and formal education, I believe Dr. Moodley is perfect for engagement in this seminar. He is sure to provide a unique perspective in seminar discussions,” said Dr. Debbie Murray, vice president for Academic Affairs at Lee. “Moodley has been active in developing curriculum and experiential learning opportunities for students at Lee, and as a result of participation in this seminar, I anticipate development of new courses and approaches to facilitate the dialogue that is so critical in today’s global society.”

Moodley joined the Lee University School of Religion faculty in 1999, and currently serves as the Director of Lee’s Intercultural Studies Program, along with teaching Introduction to Christianity and Theology of Missions courses, among others. He received his doctorate from Asbury Theological Seminary, his Master in Divinity from the Church of God Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Theology from University of South Africa.

Lee University is a Christ-centered university of about 5000 students located in Cleveland, Tenn., in the southeast part of the state’s scenic Tennessee River Valley. Lee is emerging as a leader in higher education in the southeastern region and is continuously ranked in the “Top Tier” of Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report. Lee is also ranked by Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” among the colleges named Best in the Southeast. Over the past two decades, Lee has undergone a remarkable transformation that has included significant growth in academic programs, student enrollment, faculty expertise and diversity, as well as an expanded sense of mission and vision. More information can be found at www.leeuniversity.edu.

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of 744 nonprofit independent colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and organizations that has worked since 1956 to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of private higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities as well as conferences, seminars, and other programs that help institutions to improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, and institutional visibility. CIC also provides support to state fundraising associations that organize programs and generate contributions for private colleges and universities. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.

A Chicago-based nonprofit organization, Interfaith Youth Core’s (IFYC) mission is to make interfaith cooperation a social norm. Since its incorporation in 2002, IFYC has worked on five continents and with over 200 college and university campuses, trained thousands in the principles of interfaith leadership, and reached millions through the media. IFYC has worked with partners including the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, the White House, and the Office of Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan. Eboo Patel is the founder and president of IFYC.

For more information, visit www.cic.edu/TeachingInterfaith.