Courtney Friesen, Professor in the Department of Religious Studies & Classics, has received the Frank W. Beare Award from the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies.

Presented at the society’s annual meeting in June in Toronto, the Beare Award recognizes an outstanding book in the areas of Christian Origins, Post-Biblical Judaism and/or Graeco-Roman Religions. 

Friesen’s Acting Gods, Playing Heroes, and the Interaction between Judaism, Christianity, and Greek Drama in the Early Common Era, published by Routledge in 2024, explores religion and the receptions of classical theater (tragedy, comedy and satyr drama) in the early centuries of the Common Era. 

Judges for the prize commented that this is “a slim but surprisingly expansive volume, [the book] models an approach to ancient Mediterranean religion that collapses the conventional disciplinary boundaries separating classics and ancient history from biblical studies to patristics. Friesen successfully demonstrates the ongoing influence especially of Euripides on interwoven Greek, Jewish, and Christian intellectual cultures, and offers tantalizing hints of drama’s durable place in the popular cultural imagination of the ancient world. The book is well-argued, breaks new ground, and overturns the traditional view about early Christian opposition to theatre.”

Dr. Konden Smith Hansen has been promoted from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer. 

Dr. Smith Hansen (Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Arizona State University) specializes in American Religious History, with a particular expertise in Mormon Studies. He is the author of award winning Frontier Religion: Mormons in America, 1857-1907 (University of Utah Press, 2019) and the co-editor of the award winning The Reed Smoot Hearings: The Investigation of a Mormon Senator and the Making of an American Religion (Utah State University Press, 2021). He teaches courses on American and world religions, film and religion, religious violence and terrorism, Mormonism, and religion and popular culture. He was the Burns Faculty Fellow for 2014-2015. 

Alison Jameson, Associate Professor of Practice in the Departments of Religious Studies and Classics and East Asian Studies, is the recipient of the College of Humanities 2025 Distinguished Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award. 

Karen Seat, Head of the Department of Religious Studies & Classics, nominated Jameson for the honor, writing that she “spends the time to get to know each and every student who comes to her office and offers herself as a faculty advisor they can count on to support them each step of the way through their academic career."

“Dr. Jameson consistently goes above and beyond her regular duties to serve not only as an advisor but also as a tireless advocate, mentor, and anchor for our students,” Seat wrote. “As the primary faculty advisor for undergraduates in Religious Studies since 2016, she has spent an enormous amount of time and energy with students in this capacity, due to her deep commitment to their success and wellbeing.” 

Seat noted that Jameson often “goes out of her way to advocate for students facing challenges or obstacles to their success,” which students wrote about in their own nomination letters. 

“Professor Jameson’s guidance as an advisor was especially invaluable to me during one of the most challenging periods of my life,” wrote one student, detailing physical and mental struggles. “She not only provided academic guidance but also offered empathy and encouragement when I needed it most. Her care and understanding made me feel seen and supported when I otherwise felt isolated.” 

“Anytime I felt myself worried about what I was doing or what to do next, I felt like Dr. Jameson was in my corner, helping me figure out the next step in the path, and if there wasn’t an obvious one, she was helping me lay a new stepping stone,” wrote another student. “She was a calm, confident presence, a person to whom I could go with any uncertainty or curiosity. I truly appreciate having had her as my adviser, and I believe that she deserves to be recognized by the College of Humanities for her advisership and mentorship to the undergraduate students.” 

Seat wrote that Jameson’s has also been tireless in recruiting students, both through the relationships she develops in her own teaching, including Gen Ed courses that include large numbers of first- and second-year students, and through representing the department at various campus events. She has worked to create a sense of community among students, helping to develop the department’s first-ever Religious Studies student club. 

With most Religious Studies students having two or three majors, Jameson makes painstaking efforts to work with them to map out their degree plan so that they can successfully complete all their degree commitments. Seat wrote, “Dr. Jameson steadily gives her all to mentoring and advising students, year in and year out.” 

The Fred and Barbara Borga Award was established in honor of Fred and Barbara Borga through the generosity of their son Dr. Ross Schwartzberg. The award supports outstanding undergraduate students at the University of Arizona who are majoring in Religious Studies with a concentration in Religious Studies for Health Professionals.

Religious Studies is thrilled to announce the following winner of the 2025 Fred and Barbara Borga Award: Arturo Padilla, Religious Studies for Health Professionals major.

Arturo Padilla writes:

"Studying Religious Studies for Health Professionals has really opened my eyes to how much religion, spirituality, and culture impact the way people understand health and healing. As someone who's Catholic and reconnecting with my Yaqui background, this major has helped me think about how I can better support Native and Latino communities in ways that respect their beliefs. I've really enjoyed learning how religion shows up in healthcare settings and how important it is for providers to be aware of those dynamics.

"This scholarship means a great deal to me. It has lifted the financial burden, allowing me to focus more fully on my future and how I can give back to my communities—both the Arizona community as a whole, and specifically the Native and Latino populations within it. Thank you for this incredible opportunity."

The Department of Religious Studies and Classics is happy to announce the winners of the 2025 Spring Lionel Rombach and Ora Bretall Scholarship Awards.

Awardee for the Ora Bretall Scholarship are: Evangeline Harkless, Sid Kabra, Arturo Padilla, and Cassandra Quijada.

Awardees for the Lionel Rombach Scholarship are: Jade Price and Lake Sterling.

Congratulations to our outstanding majors in Religious Studies (BA) and Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS)!

Read (in their words) how majoring in Religious Studies & RSHP has enriched their lives and studies:

Lake Sterling: 

Among many reasons, I have especially loved the multidisciplinary approach that Religious Studies offers. The political history of a certain country and how it interacts with and is influenced by religion and religious movements has been an especially interesting and new lens to understand history. It allows for understanding a large picture in the course of history as well the individual lives of people. Personally, I have particularly loved learning about these political-religious interactions in Korea, Japan, and China.

Jade Price:

I chose to major in Religious Studies because I'm genuinely fascinated by the profound impact religion has had on shaping both history and society. My journey as a history major opened my eyes to how religion can unify people while also being a source of division around the globe. This complexity deepened my interest in exploring how religion influences historical contexts, motivating me to add a second major in Religious Studies. While taking religious course, I've loved diving into the diverse topics within the Religious Studies major, ranging from religious theories to modern religious movements. Many of my class discussions have been lively and engaging, showcasing a wonderful mix of perspectives and interpretations. I truly believe that studying religion is essential for fostering a deeper understanding of our world. Religion touches upon many aspects of life, including politics, ethics, and culture. By examining it thoughtfully, I think that people would be able to tackle a variety of societal issues effectively. Gaining insight into different religious perspectives can pave the way for better community dialogue and cooperation, ultimately promoting a more peaceful and inclusive society.

Sid Kabra:

A year ago, I would never have imagined myself pursuing a major in Religious Studies. As an international student, I came in with a different cultural background, and I’m truly glad I made the decision to explore this field. Studying religion has made me more aware of other people’s emotions, more thoughtful with my words and how I express my opinions. It has helped me become more open to different backgrounds, more inclusive of others’ thoughts, and overall, it has helped me grow into a better human being. I’ve learned to appreciate differences and welcome everyone with an open heart. I believe more students should consider studying Religious Studies, to experience the personal growth and perspective this journey has given me.

Evangeline Harkless:

It is no question that religion has been prevalent in every society and era. Therefore, we must not neglect its implications and how it has formed and reformed culture. I believe we cannot properly assess human behavior, relationships, and individuality without academically dissecting religious thoughts and beliefs. The human connection to the divine has, and never will, leave. The belief in religion has caused people to act in a collective manner that could never be attributed to tangible external factors. Without the academic study of religion, no human or human culture can be understood, and the intimate relationships surrounding the conception of god(s) help us to connect with modern and ancient peoples. Many people, myself included, study religion and through this, become interconnected to those in the past, come to view our world through a spiritual and analytical lens, and begin to understand the nature of humans and the spiritual self.

Cassandra Quijada: 

My journey toward majoring in Religious Studies began in high school when I wrote a research essay for my AP Language class on the history of religion in the United States. The assignment ignited a curiosity within me to delve deeper into the subject, prompting me to seek out a field that would broaden my understanding of religious practices, history, and their impact on society. My interest only deepened when I read a book featuring a Religious Studies professor as a character, which further inspired me to explore the discipline. As I conducted more research, I discovered the Religious Studies major and realized it was the perfect fit for my intellectual curiosity and career aspirations.

Arturo Padilla: 

Studying Religious Studies for Health Professionals has really opened my eyes to how much religion, spirituality, and culture impact the way people understand health and healing. As someone who's Catholic and reconnecting with my Yaqui background, this major has helped me think about how I can better support Native and Latino communities in ways that respect their beliefs. I've really enjoyed learning how religion shows up in healthcare settings and how important it is for providers to be aware of those dynamics.