NACUC 2015
NACUC Conference 2015
Vanderbilt was excited to host the 2015 National Conference for the National Association of College and University Chaplains this week at the Student Life Center. The conference, themed “the Hidden Wholeness”, brought together Chaplains, Student Affairs professionals and more from around the country to hear from scholars and guest speakers on best practices, research discoveries and breakthroughs, as well as current trends in Higher Education Ministry. The conference sought to explore, recognize and embrace the hidden, ephemeral and/or marginal aspects of university lives, work and contexts in order to shape, and be shaped by, a holistic appreciation of the vocational, professional and institutional identities.
Sunday evening’s speaker was Dr. Andrew Newberg. Dr. Andrew Newberg is a neuroscientist who studies the relationship between brain function and various mental states. He is a pioneer in the neurological study of religious and spiritual experiences, a field known as “neurotheology.” His research includes taking brain scans of people in prayer, meditation, rituals, and trance states, in an attempt to better understand the nature of religious and spiritual practices and attitudes. Everyone was captivated by his presentation and stayed well after the allotted time to ask questions.
Monday morning brought Dr. Christian Smith. Christian Smith is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame, Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society, Director of the Notre Dame Center for Social Research, Principal Investigator of the National Study of Youth and Religion, and Principal Investigator of the Science of Generosity Initiative. Discussing the results of Wave 4 of the NSYR Study, Dr. Smith brought into view the complex world that students are coming to college from and the different trends in the religious development of “Emerging Adults”. The afternoon held Tennessee sight seeing excursions for the guests to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and a Civil Rights History Tour of Nashville, led by Freedom Rider Kwame Lillard.
Tuesday was action packed as Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and Dean Emilie Townes of Vanderbilt’s Divinity School both spoke to the audience. Dr. Levine brought forth new meaning and insight into the parables of Jesus and showed the crowd how these interpretations could open the door to working with students in new ways. Dean Townes shared her vision for the Divinity School and spoke of the current trends in religious education.
Filled with fun times, thought provoking workshops, and new collaborations, the 2015 NACUC Conference was a wonderful event to be hosted at Vanderbilt. Check out tons of wonderful images of the conference here.
