Iliff's Office of Admissions invites you to volunteer as an Alumni Admissions Ambassador.

Volunteering with admissions is a great opportunity to connect with individuals interested in earning an Iliff degree. As a volunteer Alumni Admissions Ambassador, you can interact with prospective students in a meaningful way as they explore what makes Iliff so special. Your alumni perspective provides an invaluable view of life as a Iliffian!

Alumni Admissions Ambassadors support Iliff's enrollment efforts by phoning prospective and newly admitted students and volunteering at events. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, event opportunities may vary as we leverage virtual methods of recruitment and outreach. Your involvement is especially valuable at this time.

Admissions will work with each volunteer to adequately prepare you for all outreach tasks as they arise. Volunteers are able to choose their level of involvement, as there is no ongoing required time commitment.

We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to help enroll future generations into the Iliff community.

Sign up today. Contact Daniel Klawitter with any questions at [email protected] or (303) 765-3118.

Kebaya Coaching & Consulting along with The Iliff School of Theology Women's Alliance present:

Zoom Video Conference Call

You are warmly invited to join us as we explore the topic of advancing racial equity in public education. Our panelists include:

President and CEO, Center for Equity & Excellence

Dr. Allen has served as an educational leader for over 30 years and is a national expert on implicit bias and culturally responsive practices.

Co-founder/Executive Director, Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism (YAASPA)

Dr. Mackey holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education with an emphasis in Public Policy and Curriculum and Instruction, which she earned at the University of Denver's Morgridge College of Education.

Director, AVID Program Cherry Creek

Dr. Mason is a passionate educator-leader and is now in her 33rd year of leading and serving children and teachers in both the Chicago and Denver metro areas.

Registration for this event is $5. An additional donation to support the continued programming offered by the Iliff Women's Alliance is welcome. A link to participate in the Zoom video conference will be sent to all registrants via email a week prior to the event.

Dr. Carolyn Love, Ph.D. is a womanist, black feminist and a critical race theorist. As the founder of Kebaya Coaching & Consulting, Dr. Love works with organizations and individuals committed to social and political change. She centers the beloved community in her work and is unswerving to the vision of creating a multiracial, multicultural democracy. Dr. Love is an Affiliate Professor in the Masters of Nonprofit Management Program at Regis University. She is also “Grannie Love” to three intelligent and beautiful granddaughters.

Dr. Girim Jung has been appointed Visiting Assistant Professor of Comparative Religion and Contextual Theologies and and Louisville Institute Post-Doctoral Fellow.

Dr. Jung, who received his doctorate in Comparative Theology/Philosophy from the Claremont School of Theology, is also the Louisville Institute Post-Doctoral Fellow. He is also a graduate of Rutgers University (Bachelor of Arts) and Yale Divinity School (Master of Divinity).

Prior to coming Iliff, Dr. Jung was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Felician University in New Jersey. At Iliff, he will teach courses in the areas of comparative religion and contextual/constructive theologies.

"Dr. Jung's appointment further expands our already strong comparative religion course offerings, and his transoceanic approaches to religious and theological studies with deep commitment to social and racial justice will be immensely helpful in the leadership formation of our students," said Iliff Faculty Dean Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee.

A second generation Korean American born in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Jung was raised in the NY-NJ-CT tri-state area. As an academic, Dr. Jung specializes in Comparative Religion and Comparative Philosophy with a particular focus on East Asian Buddhism, Black Atlantic traditions, and Decolonial Thought.

Charles Battle (MDiv '06) has developed a community-based, wealth accumulation model that can harness a community’s wealth. This system uses existing tools that will generate increased wealth for any individual or family.

He is currently developing a national program that will enhance financial life of senior citizens. This grassroots program will generate increased wealth for the community in which the senior citizen resides.

Using the combined perspectives of his past life as a former professional football player, financial planner and a senior pastor, Battle has a unique perspective that allows him to see the problems around us as opportunities. He focuses on the challenges which exist with a hopeful view toward long term strategies which are not influenced by market volatility.

The Rev. Anne Dunlap (MDiv '08), National SURJ Faith Program Coordinator, is excited and proud to launch the “Community Safety for All Congregational Action Toolkit” for white faith/spiritual leaders and congregations across traditions. SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work for racial justice.

The toolkit offers extensive resources to support white faith/spiritual communities and institutions ready to take action to stop relying on police and build alternatives instead. The toolkit includes a 4-Movement model we’ve developed to support congregations in moving to action, including assessment tools, political education suggestions, action ideas for a variety of scenarios, theological reflection, alternatives congregations can utilize, and support options from SURJ-Faith. You can get the toolkit here. You may also sign up here to join in conversation about the "Community Safety for All" during a webinar on October 14 at 5 PT / 8 ET.

Rev. Dunlap is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and the founder of FierceRev Remedies, offering herbal consults, workshops, mentorship as well as consulting, teaching, and preaching, all towards the goal of racial justice and collective liberation that's rooted in practice with the land.

Morgan Tubbs (MASJE '16) recently started a position as the Data and Communications Director with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, a statewide organization working tirelessly to eliminate the stigma of suicide.

You can watch Tubbs in a recent news story produced by News Channel 5 in Nashville announcing that the Tennessee Department of Health joined CDC Suicide Prevention Program in boosting support for suicide prevention efforts over the next five years.

Amanda Udis-Kessler (CERT '12), is the featured composer for this year's three issues of Worship Music & Ministry, the journal of the UCC Musicians Association.

Three of her hymns are featured, one per issue, with supporting articles. The Fall 2020 issue features a Christmas lullaby, "The Manger is Stranger," and the upcoming Winter issue will likely feature her Palm Sunday hymn, "Two Processions."

Udis-Kessler is a hymnwriter, songwriter, composer, and writer who specializes in music and lyrics for liberal/progressive religious people and communities, including inclusive, social justice-minded Christians, Unitarian Universalists, and other religious traditions.

Visit queersacredmusic.com for information, including access to free-use hymns, worship music, and rounds.

If there is something going on in your world that you would like us to share with your colleagues, you are welcome to submit your news to the Alumni Office.

The Rev. Megan Armstrong (MA '07), Associate Pastor at Arvada United Methodist Church in Colorado, recently shared with us why she chose Iliff. You can watch the video here.

She has worked in the United Methodist Church since 1999 working in local churches in both Nebraska and Colorado, and she was ordained as a Deacon in 2015. She is excited to have maintained her relationships with the Iliff community and continues to use the school as a grounding point for her ministry and career.

The Rev. Marvin Essing (MDiv '64), retired elder in the Mountain Sky Conference of The United Methodist Church, died on August 3, 2020. A scholarship fund has been established by his family at Iliff in Essing's name. You are invited to make a tribute gift in his memory.

The Rev. Gerald "Toby" Toburen (MDiv '64), retired ordained minister with The United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, died on June 4, 2020.

Take part in Iliff's social media campaign to encourage voter participation across the Iliff community through November 3 (election day).

How can you participate?

1) Create a 10-second video that highlights one issue that is important to you in this year's election and why you plan to vote. #IliffVotes2020 is about the issues and increasing voter participation across America. Videos that mention potential candidates will not be shared on the #IliffVotes2020 social media pages. Send your video to Soon Beng at [email protected] to get posted to the Iliff Facebook page.

2) Follow the Iliff Vote 2020 Facebook page. Daily posts of voter resources, Iliff Vote 2020 videos, and community participation will be shared. Stay connected!

3) Visit the www.iliff.edu/vote2020 web page for additional voter participation resources. Do you need to get registered? Do you plan to vote by mail or in-person? Are you looking for ways to volunteer in this year's election?

4) Share a selfie after you've voted to post to the Iliff Instagram page. Exercise your right to vote and inspire others to take the same step.

Are you a recent Iliff graduate from the years 2015 to 2019? In the coming weeks, we will send you a an email inviting you to take a survey. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.

We want to gain a better understanding of what is important to you and keep connected with you by sharing Iliff news and opportunities.

We look forward to hearing from you!

According to Professor George, "give the reading group a try even if you think you may not have the abilities to keep up. It's not as scary as it sounds! There is lots of collective help with vocabulary that is unfamiliar or forgotten, along with discussion of forms and of what is being read. Our goal is to read, not to do it perfectly, since weekly reading helps everyone who participates to keep their language skills sharp and improve them."

Please contact Professor George at [email protected] for the Zoom meeting information and if you have any questions.

Hope to see you at the reading group. Shana tovah!

Opening Convocation featured the annual address of the President, the Rev. Dr. Tom Wolfe, as well as prayer by students Daryl J. Walker and Lauren Johnson and faculty member the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Leath. Brian Lee brought greetings from Student Senate. The Dean of the Faculty, the Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, welcomed new and visiting faculty. Vice President of Enrollment Dr. Stephanie Krusemark introduced the entering class. Opening instructions and closing blessing were by Dean of the Chapel, the Rev. Dr. Cathie Kelsey. And, Dr. Mark George, Faculty Marshall, did the traditional opening and closing of the ceremony.

The parking lot next to Taylor is closed for the demolition crew to tear down the building and hall away the debris. After the building is completely demolished, the site will be closed for another two weeks to prepare and plant the lawn where Taylor Hall once stood. The work is expected to be completed by early November.

If it is not too painful, here is a short video clip of the demolition work.

Request a brick from the building to have as a keepsake, if you haven't done so already.

Thank you for all the fond memories, Taylor Hall!

In keeping with our commitment to the health and safety of our community, the Iliff Senior Leadership Team has decided to extend the closure of our building through December 31, 2020.

Iliff offers a curated set of pandemic resources for those serving in leadership, whether in a church or a non-profit. Visit the Pandemic Toolbox at resource.iliff.edu.

New resource for Hospital Chaplains: Healing the Healers: Special Edition is a free film and written resource for Hospital Chaplains on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This intimate, peer to peer conversation is filmed in 3-parts, each a 10-minute portion of the conversation, and intended to be a quick supportive resource for Hospital Chaplains on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resource highlights learned wisdom, provides practical methods of self-care, draws on helpful theology, gives voice to fears, encourages support, and ultimately, creates a moment of virtual rallying for those who are in the very center of facing this crisis.

Know someone who is interested in earning a degree at Iliff?

We will be hosting a virtual open house on Saturday, October 31. All are welcome to join. Participants will have a chance to meet Iliff faculty and staff and even sample a class.

Register for the open house today.

To visit PIFN, click here.

Connect with us using this online form if you have news you would like us to share in future issues of this alumni newsletter.