In his thoughtful and visionary lecture on the future of university chaplaincy, Dr. Varun Soni, Vice Provost for Campus Wellness and Crisis Intervention & Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, tackles two of the most challenging issues facing American higher education: 1) the mental, emotional, and spiritual health crisis amongst college students and 2) the aspiration to build inclusive, diverse, and equitable campus communities.
Dr. Soni discusses why chaplains should be leaders, not just in religious and spiritual life, but in university life, and how their positions on campus and pastoral care training make them especially qualified to help individuals find meaning, build communities, and foster a sense of belonging.
"Religious life has never been more important than it is now because if the challenge of our day is belonging and inclusion, then chaplains are uniquely qualified to lead, to translate the wisdom of our faith traditions into secular applications for students at a time when they need it most."
This lecture is part of the Project on Multifaith College and University Leadership at New York University’s Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, supported by a grant from the Religion and Theology Program.
