Alumna to Speak on Unity and Difference in Christianity
SHERMAN, TEXAS — Austin College will welcome alumna Dr. Jaisy Joseph ’09, Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University, as she presents the 2024 Allen-Head Lecture. A reception will begin at 4:30 p.m. on March 7 in the Johnson Art Gallery, with the lecture following at 5:30 p.m. in Wright Campus Center, Room 231. The event, sponsored by the Austin College Allen-Head Lecture Series, is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Joseph is a 2009 graduate of Austin College with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and psychology, subsequently earning a master’s degree in divinity from Harvard University, and a doctorate in systematic theology from Boston College. Her presentation, titled “The Tensions of Unity and Difference in Global Christianity: How Collective Healing Can Emerge from Our Entangled Histories,” will reflect her primary interests in ecclesiology and theological anthropology.
The Allen-Head Lecture Series was established by an endowment gift in 1985 in memory and celebration of E.T. Allen Sr. and Mary Bell Anderson Allen; Mr. and Mrs. E.T. Allen Jr.; and Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Head Jr. of Whitesboro, Texas. The lectures feature nationally prominent speakers in the areas of religion, philosophy, psychology, history, and literature.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.