Engaging Minds at the AAR Conference
Iliff's Impactful Presence at AAR
Explore the dynamic contributions of Iliff community members at this year’s American Academy of Religion (AAR) conference, where innovative ideas and groundbreaking research take center stage.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for the full list of presenters from the Joint Doctoral Program (JDP) with presentation details
Meet Some of Our Distinguished Scholars
Iliff Faculty and Students at the AAR Conference
Dr. Boyung Lee
Bio
Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, a feminist communitarian practical theologian and ordained United Methodist elder, serves as Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Iliff School of Theology, with a distinguished career championing social justice, feminist theology, and anti-racist scholarship.
Presentations
Dr. Boyung Lee is a panelist at Cultivating Agency as Full-time Contingent Faculty on Friday, November 22nd.
Dr. Boyung Lee is a panelist at the Roundtable on the 2024 U.S. Election on Sunday, November 24th.
Dr. Boyung Lee responds to the papers in a session on : Gender-based violence in Jewish and Christian religious traditions on Monday, November 25th.
Dr. Eric Smith
Bio
Dr. Eric C. Smith, an ordained minister and author of four books, teaches biblical studies and early Christianity at Iliff School of Theology, co-directs the Doctor of Ministry in Prophetic Leadership program, and specializes in material culture, postcolonial, and queer approaches to religion.
Presentations
Dr. Eric Smith presents a paper Catacombs as Topol of Desire at SBL session on Sunday in a session on Jewish and Christian Utopian Communities of the Hellenistic-Roman Era.
Dr. Kishundra King
Bio
Dr. Kishundra D. King, a womanist pastoral theologian and clinical psychotherapist, serves as Assistant Professor of Pastoral and Spiritual Care at Iliff School of Theology, where her research elevates Black girlhood experiences as essential sources for theological reflection and spiritual care.
Presentations
Dr. Kishundra King is a panelist on the topic Risk, Consent, Collaboration, and Accountability in Ethnographic Theologies and Qualitative Research on Friday, Nov 22nd.
Dr. King is a panelist on the the theme Breathing Life into Religion through Teaching, Research, and Writing: Building on the Contributions of Bonnie Miller-McLemore who is a major figure in practical theology on Saturday, November 23rd.
Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi
Bio
Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, an ordained UCC minister and author, teaches leadership and congregational vitality at Iliff School of Theology, where she also co-directs the Doctor of Ministry in Prophetic Leadership and leads national research on the pandemic’s impact on congregations.
Presentations
Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi presents Decolonizing Methodology in a Study on Decolonial Practices: Member Checking as Co-constructed Knowledge Creation in a session on Creative Research Methodologies in Practical Theology on Nov 23rd.
Dr. Lizardy-Hajbi joins Dr. Katherine Turpin and distinguished colleagues for Cultivating Agency as Full-time Contingent Faculty on Friday, November 22nd.
Dr. Katherine Turpin
Bio
Dr. Katherine Turpin, Associate Dean for Curriculum and Assessment at Iliff School of Theology, is a scholar of practical theology and religious education whose work focuses on disrupting white supremacy, critical pedagogy, and empowering diverse learning communities.
Presentations
Dr. Katherine Turpin joins Dr. Lizardy-Hajbi and distinguished colleagues for Cultivating Agency as Full-time Contingent Faculty on Friday, November 22nd.
Dr. Ted Vial
Bio
Dr. Ted Vial, Potthoff Professor of Theology and Modern Western Religious Thought at Iliff School of Theology, explores the intersections of religion, nationalism, race, and artificial intelligence, bringing his expertise to both academic leadership and cutting-edge scholarship.
Presentations
Dr. Ted Vial presides over a session entitled
Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Religion: Theoretical Explorations on Sunday, November 24th.
Angela Hummel
Bio
An Iliff DMin student, Angela explores the intersection of art and theology, challenging conventional perspectives through her innovative research.
Presentations
Iliff DMin student, Angela Hummel, presents a paper Art Theology, Seeing what we Overlooked and Making New Knowledge on Saturday, November 23rd.
Isabela Rosales
Bio
A JDP student, Isabela’s research on queering religious narratives provides a transformative view of cultural and spiritual traditions.
Presentations
JDP student Isabela Rosales presents a paper Queering our Lady of Guadalupe on Sunday, November 24th.