News
News from Hartford International University
Faculty In The News
Earth, Spirituality, and Hope on the Agenda for Events with Dr. Lisa Dahill
May 5, 2026
Dr. Lisa Dahill, Director of the Center for Transformative Spirituality at HIU, will be the keynote speaker and retreat leader for “Loving the Wild: Spirituality in the 21st Century,” set to take place at the Prairiewoods Franciscan Retreat Center in Hiawatha, Iowa, from May 15 to 17, 2026. The weekend event also marks the celebration of the center’s 30th anniversary.
General HIU News
Dr. Sherry L. Turner Inaugurated as 12th President of HIU
May 5, 2026
The Inauguration of President Sherry L. Turner was a joy-filled and inspiring series of events held on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26.
Faculty In The News
Dr. David D. Grafton and Dr. Lucinda Mosher Contribute to Book on Interfaith Relations
May 4, 2026
Drs. David D. Grafton and Lucinda Mosher have contributed to Fostering Interfaith Relations: Nostra Aetate at Sixty, edited by Father James H. Kroeger (MM) and Father Joseph Victor Edwin (SJ).
General HIU News
HIRR Report Shows First Rise in U.S. Congregation Attendance in 25 Years, Uneven Recovery
April 29, 2026
The Hartford Institute for Religion Research, in collaboration with Faith Communities Today, released a new report titled "Signs of Rebound Amid Uneven Recovery: The Changing Congregational Landscape." The report forms part of the institute's Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations project.
Interfaith & Interreligious Dialogue
Macdonald Center Secures $30K Grant to Study AI’s Impact on Interreligious Studies
April 9, 2026
The Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at HIU has been awarded a $30,000 Educational Experimentation Grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion. The grant will fund a two-year initiative exploring the pedagogical and ethical challenges artificial intelligence poses to interreligious studies and interfaith relations.
General HIU News
HIU Invited to Participate in Endow Hartford 21
April 2, 2026
We are thrilled to announce that Hartford International University (HIU) has been invited to participate in Endow Hartford 21 (EH21), a prestigious initiative that helps local nonprofits build lasting endowment funds.
Faculty In The News
Dr. Deena Grant Promoted to Full Professor of Jewish Studies
April 1, 2026
HIU is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Deena Grant to the rank of full professor, a result of her record of excellence in teaching, research, and service to the institution.
Alumni News
Tricia Pethic '19 Bridges Faith and Healing
March 26, 2026
Islamic Chaplaincy alum Tricia Pethic ‘19 answered the call to be a Chaplain when she observed that, frequently, people confided in her personal matters that they hadn’t told anyone else. Now, she is the founding director of a nonprofit called Muslim Prisoner Project and the owner of a private pastoral counseling practice, Naseeha Pastoral Counseling LLC.
General HIU News
HIU Welcomes New Registrar
March 17, 2026
Gail has over 20 years of experience in academic administration, advising, and student records management. She has a Master of Arts with a focus in Ministry in Everyday Life from HIU and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development, Family Services, and Counseling from the University of Connecticut. Gail is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at the University of Hartford.
Interfaith & Interreligious Dialogue
Macdonald Center Offers Resources in Response to War and Rising Anti-Muslim Bigotry
March 12, 2026
With the present war in the Middle East, Americans need accurate information to better understand the region, the Muslim world, and American Iranian relations. HIU's Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations is a trusted resource for community organizations and religious groups, led by a faculty dedicated to interreligious and intercultural dialogue.