Dr. Timothy Beal, Distinguished University Professor, Florence Harkness Professor of Religion, and Director of h.lab, will deliver Lehigh University’s 2026 Baccalaureate Address on Saturday, May 16th, 2026. Dr. Beal will discuss AI, ethics, and the role of higher education in shaping a just and sustainable future.
Dr. Jonathan Tan, the Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Professor in Catholic Studies I, was kept busy last academic year with interviews, panels, and op eds, first on the Late Pope Francis’ South Asian tour, followed months later by the appointment of his successor, Pope Leo XIV. One year later, the news media has again called upon Dr. Tan as the expert. He was recently featured in an interview on USA Today and quoted in the article, “An American pope, a presidential clash and what it means in the pews” (USA Today, May 2nd). Soon after, on the anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s appointment, Dr. Tan published his latest op ed, “Reflections on the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate” (UCA News, May 8th).
Join us in support of your fellow classmates as they present their capstone projects. Ask questions, pick their brains, and learn something along the way!
Wednesday, April 8th, 6pm
Crawford Hall, Rm A09
Refreshments will be provided
Medha Bhimaraju – Capstone
“Narrating Suffering and Practicing Healing in Zen Buddhist and Charismatic Christian Communities in the United States”
Asha Kartha – Honors Thesis
“Developing in Turmoil: Jewish Identity in Higher Education After October 7th”
Lily Stuart – Honors Thesis
“Gospels for Nonbelievers: Concerts and American Spirituality”
The VCET: Vibe-Coded Ed-Tech Challenge is an experimental, hands-on event led by Dr. Timothy Beal that invites students and participants to explore new forms of digital creativity using AI-powered “vibe coding.” Vibe coding is a new way to build software by describing what you want in plain English. Instead of writing code, you focus on the vibe: what do you want learners to experience – curiosity, empathy, resilience? a deeper appreciation of complexity and ambiguity? a whole new understanding of what it means to be human in this more-than-human world? AI handles the code. There are two ways to participate, Ideas, for those without coding experience, or Coding, for those who with experience.
April 17–19, 2026 • Nord Hall 356
Click here to learn more about the event, the two tracks, and how to apply.
Application deadline: 5:00 PM, Sunday, April 12, 2026
Religious Studies is offering a new course this Fall 2026, RLGN 225: “Sharp Edges/Tender Bodies: Religion, Health and Resilience,” created and taught by Professor Michele Tracy Berger on Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:30-12:45.
This course examines how women of color understand, negotiate, and practice health through religious belief, spirituality, and embodied knowledge. Through interdisciplinary texts, narratives, and case studies, students explore how faith traditions shape experiences of illness, healing, wellness, activism, and care in the context of race, gender, and power.
This course satisfies the Human Diversity and Commonality requirement and can count toward the Africana Studies Minor.
Dr. Deepak Sarma, inaugural distinguished scholar in the public humanities, quoted as expert in recent article, “Sarah Huckabee Sanders Leveled This Dig After Restaurant Drama. An Expert Says It’s A Tactic.” (HuffPost, March 23, 2026). Sarma said that ‘Sanders’ statements are a “blatant attempt to gaslight and hijack the narrative.” It’s ‘ironic’ that “MAGA has been a small and borderline group that has commandeered the U.S. government and the media, and has claimed to speak on behalf of all Americans.”’
Registration for the Fall 2026 semester begins on April 6th, are you ready to beat the crowd and build your dream schedule? Now is your chance to plan ahead; fall courses are officially live on SIS!
See the complete list with descriptions and UGER for all RLGN classes offered, here.
For JWST (and HBRW), visit here.
For AFST, visit here.
Dr. Deepak Sarma, inaugural distinguished scholar in the public humanities, quoted as expert in recent article, “MAGA Attacks James Talarico Over Views on Christianity. There’s 1 Reason Why, Expert Says.” (HuffPost, March 12, 2026). Sarma said that ‘they believe the right-wing attacks against Talarico are motivated by one reason: “They hope to gaslight Christians across the United States to believe that their views that Christ defended the oppressed is not correct, and that having such beliefs is neither American nor Christian.”’
Dr. Timothy Beal presents his talk “What’s So Generative About Generative AI?: How and Why the Humanities Have a Future” as part of The Speaker Series 2026 hosted at Penn State on March 5th, 2026.
Timothy Beal is a scholar and writer who explores the dynamic fields of technology, religion, ecology, and AI in the humanities and higher education. A professor of religion at Case Western Reserve University, he studies the spiritual and ethical considerations of the innovations that are shaping our world.