Dr. Lucinda Mosher Named Vice President/President-Elect of Association for Interreligious/Interfaith Studies

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The Association for Interreligious/Interfaith Studies (AIIS) — a network of scholars, practitioners, and activists committed to advancing this academic field — has announced the formal establishment of a Board of Directors and Advisory Council, the officers for which include Dr. Lucinda Mosher, Director of HIU’s Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies program.

"We are thrilled,” says AIIS President Hans Gustafson, director of the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota). “Lucinda’s election as Vice President not only brings a wealth of expertise and insight to our board, but also marks an exciting step forward. As our President-elect, her vision and leadership will be pivotal for the Association's future, and I look forward to working alongside her."

Founded by Dr. Jennifer Howe Peace and launched in Boston during the 2017 annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, AIIS is dedicated to nurturing the growth and academic rigor of interreligious and interfaith discourse with space for networking and learning among scholars, practitioners, and activists. It has a tradition of facilitating rich scholarly dialogue, critical reflection, and engagement with local interfaith communities.

By maintaining a collaborative relationship with the Journal of Interreligious Studies and the European Society for Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies, and by adapting to virtual platforms as necessary, AIIS has created connections for scholarly discourse and shared academic endeavors. Not only does AIIS support established scholars in the field, it places a strong emphasis on cultivating emerging scholars, providing them with a platform on which to share pioneering work and to navigate challenges within their graduate research.

During the 2022–2023 academic year, Dr. Mosher was a member of a volunteer leadership team that helped this organization take significant strides towards institutional development. “The AIIS is now well positioned to establish itself as a legal entity,” Dr. Mosher said. “It is my great honor to be one of its officers as it takes steps that will ensure its continued impact on interreligious and interfaith studies in North America and beyond.”