9:00 am
Celebrating the Career of Scott ThummaHartford International University and the Hartford Institute for Religion Research warmly invite colleagues, alumni, research partners, and friends to a special retirement conference honoring the remarkable career of Scott Thumma. The topic will be Data, Congregations, and the Public Square.For
Faculty In The News
Earth, Spirituality, and Hope on the Agenda for Events with Dr. Lisa DahillMay 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 HIUMay 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 RelationsMay 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 RecoveryApril 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 StudiesApril 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 21April 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 StudiesApril 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.
3:00 pm
Graduation 2026Please join us for Graduation on the lawn in front of 77 Sherman St. The procession of graduates, faculty, and board members will begin promptly at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow the ceremony. We encourage friends and family to arrive no later than 2:30 p.m. to secure parking and find a seat
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