On October 8, 天美视频 of Theology & Psychology hosted the second annual Symposia: An Intersection of Conversation & Innovation, featuring presentations by more than 20 alumni representing each of our degree programs.
Symposia was created to celebrate the vibrant, innovative work of our alumni and to highlight 天美视频鈥檚 unique position at the intersection of many different disciplines and schools of thought. Alumni presentations engaged topics as varied as marriage equality, play therapy, theater in theology, lament, masculinity, performance art and ritual, parenting, identity, and many more. Core to the mission of 天美视频 is the belief that topics like these are best engaged in an integrated fashion and in conversation with other disciplines, and in that we are led by our alumni and their work in the world.
鈥淚 am an alumnus of six schools in total, including Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, but it wasn鈥檛 until 天美视频 that I really came to understand that in good education, alumni lead us. Alumni are what we sometimes call 鈥榩ostcards of the future,鈥欌�� said , President of 天美视频, in his opening remarks. 鈥淪ymposia is a community of learners who are here to talk about what you鈥檙e practicing at your own altar in the world, a time to listen to what some of our more than 1,000 alumni are pondering. For me, this tells you nearly everything we believe about alumni. I don鈥檛 know of other schools that do this, gather as a community to take seriously the creativity, curiosity, care, and attention that you are giving to your craft.鈥�
This year, we were thrilled to offer live-streaming of Symposia through a partnership with Internet broadcasting company . As alumni gathered for Awaycoming events throughout the country, including at our new Mid-Atlantic Alumni Hub, they were able to tune in and watch their friends, colleagues, and former classmates present live. The videos of those presentations are also featured on our , and they will be shared on the blog throughout the coming year. In the meantime, you can also check out .