Why Study Religion?

Mission Statement

After Graduation

Courses and Degree Information

Faculty & Staff

News & Events

Internet Resources on Religion

Support the Department

Check out CoLA's Facebook page.

The 2012 Piediscalzi Lecture Series

Wright State University departments of

Religion and Economics present two lectures

Thursday April 12, 2012

Poverty in the Roman Empire:

Four Early Christian Responses        

Dr. Steve Friesen

Louise Farmer Boyer Chair in Biblical Studies

University of Texas at Austin

6:00 pm in the Discovery Room

of the Student Union (E 163)

Thursday May 17, 2012

How Money Came About:

Temples, Taxes or Traders?

Dr. Alla Semenova

Assistant Professor of Economics

Dickinson College, PA

6:00 pm in the Discovery Room

of the Student Union (E 163)

· Co-Sponsored by the Departments of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, and the Department of Economics.   

· These Lectures are free and open to the public.

· Dr. Nicholas Pisediscalzi was the founding chair of the Religion Department, and a life-long student of the dialectic of Religion and Culture - especially Art, Literature, and Politics.

Dedicated to understanding the dynamic interplay

between religion and other aspects of culture.

For more information contact the Department of Religion

370 Millett Hall,  937-775-2274

*   *   *   *   *  *   *   *  *

The Departments of

Religion, Philosophy, and Classics

Announce

 Continuing Scholarships for 2012-2013

The Robert B. Dorris, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

The award for the 2012-2013 academic year is expected to be $900.

Eligibility:  All Religion majors

Criteria:     Best Essay

Length:      Approximately 3000 words (5-7 pages)

Topic of Essay: Open. Applicants may submit an essay written for a recent Religion course or write an original essay for this contest.

Evaluation of Essays: The Religion Department faculty will determine the best essay, considering:

1. Academic Substance.  The essay presents issues and evidence and not merely personal opinion.
2. Logical development. The essay articulates and elaborates a thesis that is then supported by careful arguments.
3. Appropriate documentation. The essay provides support for the assertions it makes.
4. Quality of the Writing.  The essay strives for both clarity and elegance in presentation.

The Gregory Burdette Heuser Memorial

Scholarship

Awards for the 2012-2013 academic year are expected

to be $500-$1000.

Eligibility:  All Religion majors

Criteria:     Financial need and academic accomplishment

Selection:   Finalist(s) will be chosen by the Religion Department Faculty.

The Religion Department Select Scholarship

Awards for the 2012-2013 academic year are expected

to be $500-$1000.

Eligibility:  All Religion majors

Criteria:     Financial need; special consideration to students pursuing academic opportunities such as study abroad.

Selection:   Finalist(s) will be chosen by the Religion Department Faculty.

The Ronald F. Hough Endowed Scholarship

Awards for the 2012-2013 academic year are expected

to be $500-$1000.

Eligibility: All Philosophy majors

Criteria:   This is a merit-based scholarship recognizing academic accomplishment

Selection:  Finalist(s) will be chosen by the Philosophy Department Faculty.

The William and Cynthia King

Endowed Scholarship

Awards for the 2012-2013 academic year are expected

to be $500-$1000.

Eligibility:  All Classics majors

Criteria:    This is a merit-based scholarship recognizing academic accomplishment

Selection:  Finalist(s) will be chosen by the Classics Department Faculty.

The Janice J. Gabbert Classics Scholarship

Awards for the 2012-2013 academic year are expected

to be $500-$1000.

Eligibility: All Classics majors

Criteria:    Financial need; special consideration to students pursuing academic opportunities such as study abroad.

Selection: Finalist(s) will be chosen by the Classics Department Faculty.

Applications for these scholarships are available in the

Department Office (370 Millett); or you can request one via email (from siobhan.semmett@wright.edu); or you can get one

from your advisor.

The deadline to submit

all scholarship applications

is 5:00 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012.

*   *   *   *   *  *   *   *  *

Religion Department Selects

Outstanding Alum for 2012

Harmon Remmel (Mel) Menker graduated (magna cum Laude) from WSU in 1985 with a degree in Religion, having completed an associate of Arts degree at Sinclair. He has continued his education at a variety of institutions, including United Theological Seminary, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies, and other places. He earned a Masters of Pastoral Counseling degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary and is currently completing a Doctorate in the same program.

He has used his education to serve both church and community, while pastoring at various parishes in Ohio and Maryland for over 30 years. He sees his work as threefold: teaching, preaching, and counseling, and is constantly looking for new ways to help people.

His extensive community service includes: working in mental health, providing hunger relief, counseling for deployed military, and coaching athletics. He has been involved in all levels of mental health, from counselor, to trainer, to supervisor, to board member.

He directed a Harvest for the Hungry Program and served on the board of trustees of a regional Food Bank. He has been a soccer coach for school and community teams, from youth soccer to college sports and was named JUCO Region xx Men’s Soccer coach of the year in 2003.

His selection as the outstanding alumnus from the Departments of Religion, Philosophy, and Classics recognizes his extensive service, his commitment to education, his creativity in finding new solutions to old problems, and his considerable talents, both personal and academic.