Southwestern University Religion Department

Hello SU students in the Religion/Animals and Apocalypse/Dystopia classes. Not sure if you'll see this, but no other way to communicate right now. With this horrid weather continuing, my classes are canceled for this week. I'll update you with a revised syllabus as soon as we can access the internet again. Be safe and warm!

To the Southwestern Community, and Beyond

Our department is both grieving and angry about the murder of Mr. George Floyd. We must ALL stand in solidarity and say his name, along with those of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile and Eric Garner, to name just a few. And we must affirm that Black Lives Matter.

As a department, we are committed to social justice, religious freedom, racial equality, gender equity, and a myriad of other critical issues that shape our world today. And while we regularly teach about these issues in our classrooms, it’s not enough. We MUST act, all of us, in ANY way that we can, right now!

Multi-generational institutional racism is an epidemic in the United States, and we must all work toward its eradication. Police brutality against the Black community, systemic violence and the oppression of Black voices, popular appropriation of Black culture, and the financial and educational barriers to success that the Black community (including the students, staff, faculty and alumni of Southwestern) faces on a daily basis are all part of a larger system of oppression whose history traces back to slavery and continues up to today.

And so we encourage everyone in the Southwestern community and beyond to take this as a CALL TO ACTION. Find and listen to Black voices; seek out ways in which you can contribute to black businesses, communities and causes (physically, financially, emotionally); support and lift up Black students when they need it; act to bring about the diversity, equity and sense of belonging that all people deserve. Silence and inactivity are the same as complicity, and if we wish to truly embody the ideals of social justice that are at the core of Southwestern’s mission, we MUST do the hard work, and we must, through our actions, say it loudly so that everyone hears us: BLACK LIVES MATTER!

The Religion dept is hosting our spring semester lunch for students this Thursday @ 12 in KEW 115. Please join us to discuss next year's courses, meet each other, and share 600 Degrees Pizza. Even if you are studying abroad in the fall, please join us & bring interested friends!

We invite you to join us next Tuesday for these fantastic Capstone presentations! Be there or be somewhere else...

Dr. Mello will be teaching a new May Term course this year at Southwestern University. We hope you'll take a look - sounds amazing!

This is a critical marker of the "value" of a University, and it's amazing how Southwestern University has continued to move up this list!

The Princeton Review Ranks Southwestern University No. 3 in the Nation on its “Best Schools for Making an Impact” List Southwestern is the only school in Texas included on the list, moving from no. 11 last year to take the no. 3 spot this year.

Most of our faculty cross-list courses in Race and Ethnicity Studies, and if you're interested in finding out more about the program or upcoming class offerings, please attend the RES Interest Meeting this Thursday, March 29 from 12-1 in the Mood Atrium!

Good morning! We've definitely been a little sluggish updating this page, but look for that to change in the very near future! Also feel free to follow us on Twitter at as well.

Another example of how important the Humanities are, regardless of which field you end up in.

Analysis | The surprising thing Google learned about its employees — and what it means for today’s students The top traits of success at Google sound more like what one gains as an English or theater major than as a programmer.

Please join us this Tuesday to celebrate our Religion Majors and hear some amazing papers! Everyone is welcome, and snacks will be provided. For more information follow the link below or check out our web page.

Religion Department Capstone Presentations Southwestern’s prime location gives its students the best of both worlds – the charm of historic Georgetown with convenient access to Austin, just 25 miles south.