Spirituality and Leadership

Dheepa Sundaram

Assistant Professor, Hindu Studies, Critical Theory and Digital Religion

University of Denver

Thomas Walker

Director

University of Denver, IEE

Thomas previously served as the Assistant Director of Arizona State University's (since closed) Intergroup Relations Center, where he coordinated diversity education programs, provided social justice training, and served as a diversity consultant for the ASU and larger community. While at ASU, he also served as liaison to the LGBTIQ communities, as Tempe campus Classified Staff Council president, as advisor to several student organizations, and as volunteer textbook reader with Disability Services.

Sarah Pessin

University of Denver, Department of Philosophy

Sarah Pessin is Interfaith Chair and Professor of Philosophy & Jewish Thought at the University of Denver. She serves as creative director of DU's Holocaust Memorial Social Action Site, and is team leader for DU's Religious Inclusivity Initiative. She served as Director of the Center for Judaic Studies (Fall 2008-Summer 2019) and as Chair of the Academic Planning Committee (Fall 2016-Fall 2019), and in Spring 2019 was elected to serve as Faculty Senate president (Fall 2020-Summer 2022).

Andrea Stanton

Associate Professor, Islamic Studies and Digital Religion; Chair, Religious Studies

University of Denver, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

I obtained my MA and PhD in Middle Eastern history from Columbia University, and my BA in history and in religion from Williams College. My research agenda follows two tracks: 20th century Middle Eastern history, focusing on intersections between mass media forms and national or social identities, and 21st century Islam, focusing on intersections between contemporary media forms (mass and individual), state interests, and personal piety. My religious studies research areas are thus in digital Islam, digital religion, and lived religion. At DU, I teach a range of Islamic studies courses, including: Introduction to Islam, Islam in the United States, Islam and Gender, Islamic Empires, and Common Figures in the Bible and Qur'an. Like my other RLGS colleagues, I also do quite a bit of community engagement and public outreach, giving numerous public talks each year.

Effley Brooks III

Teaching Assistant Professor

University of Denver, PLP

Effley Brooks is President and owner of Tiger Bee Consulting, LLC a company that he established in order to expand his opportunities in working toward positive social change. Effley specializes in leadership development workshops and seminars. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Effley is a Buckeye- born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. However, he decided to move to Colorado after just one visit to this beautiful state. Effley is an avid snowboarder, skier, and fisherman. He has a daughter in middle school and two dogs from Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue. Effley serves on the Board of Directors for REACH Charter School and is a member of Denver African American Philanthropists (DAAP).