The Department of Religious Studies has held the Annual E.P. Adler Awards Luncheon in the spring semester for over 50 years. On May 12th, we held our third in-person celebration since going virtual for the pandemic.
The E.P. Adler Awards Luncheon is held to honor the memory of E.P. Adler, one of the department's founders. This event was established and endowed through the generosity of the late Philip and Henrietta Adler, with ongoing support provided by the family of Lloyd and Betty Schermer.
We wish to thank Lloyd and Betty Schermer and all of our generous donors who give to the Department of Religious Studies. The department is honored to use some of these funds to award our bright and gifted students.
Congratulations to each one of our awardees, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
2025 awardees
Michelene Pesantubbee Religion and Social Justice Scholarship
This award honors the memory of Dr. Pesantubbee (1954-2021), who was a professor of Native American Religious Traditions in the Department of Religious Studies. This award is for a student paper or community project that illuminates some aspect of the relationship between religion and social justice/injustice, especially as it relates to Native American rights and concerns.
Awardee
Tehya Chandler was awarded the 2025 Pesantubbee Religion and Social Justice Award for her paper, "The Intersection of Religion and Social Injustice: The Lakota Sioux Perspective." As Chandler notes in her cover letter, "This paper enhances the comprehension of religion's dual influence in both justice and injustice by linking history, personal introspection, and current challenges, while highlighting the lasting vitality of indigenous spirituality."
E.P. Adler Award
Established by Betty and Lloyd Schermer to honor Betty’s grandfather, E.P. Adler, one of the department’s founders, and awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student in the Department of Religious Studies.
Awardee
Hasan Degerli was nominated by Professor Paul Dilley, who writes, "Hasan is making excellent progress on his dissertation, the first monograph-length study of the cult of soldier martyrs in Late Antiquity. He has already completed a significant online resource, which he compiled last summer as a fellow at the university's Digital Scholarship and Publishing Studio, for studying the spread of the military martyr cult across the Mediterranean World. Hasan has also done excellent work in the classroom, teaching courses in a wide variety of areas. Finally, he is an important contributor to the well-being of the department, such as recently presenting his research at the departmental colloquium."
E.P. Adler Award
Established by Betty and Lloyd Schermer to honor Betty’s grandfather, E.P. Adler, one of the department’s founders, and awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student in the Department of Religious Studies.
Awardee
Osamamen Oba Eduviere was nominated by Professor Kristy Nabhan-Warren. Osamamen has shown a tremendous amount of dedication to her studies and is conducting important ethnographic fieldwork for her dissertation, an innovative study of how Nigerian people engage in homebuilding and placemaking in the diaspora in Chicago. Osamamen has made many sacrifices to be in the Ph.D. program and we are honored to have her as a part of our community.
E.P. Adler Undergraduate Award
Established by Betty and Lloyd Schermer to honor Betty’s grandfather, E.P. Adler, one of the department’s founders, and awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student in the Department of Religious Studies.
Awardee
Emily Waddle is a biology major specializing in genetics and biochemistry. She has combined a pre-med degree program with a religious studies minor. Her recommender, Dr. Diana Cates, says, "Emily has been wonderfully engaged in the classes she has taken with me. She sits in the front row, is always prepared, contributes substantial insights to discussion, and scores the highest in class on exams."
Alice Marguerite Blough Award
Established in 1994 with a gift from the Estate of Alice Marguerite Blough in memory of her parents, Rev. Albert P. Blough and Estelle M. Blough, and awarded for the best graduate student research paper.
Awardee
Kefas Lamak was nominated by Richard Turner and Diana Cates, who writes, "Kefas has published a number of strong articles in a wide range of professional venues. For this award we want to highlight one article that was published in 2024 in a journal called Catholics and Cultures, sponsored by the College of the Holy Cross. It is an analysis of recent trends in global Catholicism, and homes in on the dramatic growth of the number of African priests who are serving in Iowa City parishes and the Newman Center, as a very interesting example of a kind of “reverse missionization.”"
John P. Boyle Award in Catholic Studies
Established in 1998 in honor of John P. Boyle who served as a professor in the Department of Religious Studies from 1972-98, and director from 1979-89. This award is given to a graduate or undergraduate student in religious studies, based on academic excellence and outstanding work in some area of Catholic Studies.
Awardee
Carlos Ruiz Martinez was nominated by Jenna Supp-Montgomerie. Carlos’ research on the shifting relationship between U.S. immigration agencies and religious institutions and people reveals an evolving—if surprising—collaboration in which religious organizations fill in the wide gaps between what immigration policy demands and what federal immigration agencies are able to provide. Carlos illuminates the complicated relationships through which religious organizations cooperate with governmental agencies to serve and contain migrants, activating new negotiations around the separation of religion and state, and offering an unwavering ethic of care to the human lives that shape and are at stake in the context of immigration policy and practice.
John P. Boyle Award in Catholic Studies
Established in 1998 in honor of John P. Boyle who served as a professor in the Department of Religious Studies from 1972-98, and director from 1979-89. This award is given to a graduate or undergraduate student in religious studies, based on academic excellence and outstanding work in some area of Catholic Studies.
Awardee
Megan Andress is a triple major in History, Religious Studies, and Ancient Civilization. Professor Brandon Dean says that Megan routinely goes above and beyond, inside and outside of the classroom. Her work in reporting on the Trappist monks of New Melleray Abbey and her upcoming Spring Undergraduate Research Festival presentation on the Ark Encounter in Kentucky are top notch. She was also a great help with the Halloween party and has eagerly attended multiple church crawl outings.
Pres. and Mrs. Eugene Gilmore Scholarship
Established in 1985 to support the study of culture, humanistic values, and the quest for new symbols in contemporary culture. This award was named for Eugene Gilmore, past president of the University of Iowa and supporter of the department. This award is given to a doctoral student in religious studies who has an interest in the relationship of religion and culture, especially the visual arts.
Awardee
Jacky Sheridan was nominated by Dr. Kristy Nabhan-Warren for their recently defended dissertation: "Hutterite Religion and Community: How Hutterites “Dress” and Are “Dressed” by Their World." Jacky has worked incredibly hard on their research and has shown determination, grit, and grace. Their ethnographic research on Hutterites which spans over a decade with many extended visits to different Hutterite communities is deeply impressive, and their research has garnered them invitations to present their work. Jacky will be travelling to Slovenia as a speaker at an international conference on the Hutterites
Helen Goldstein Undergraduate Research Paper/Project Award
This award was established in 2012 to honor Dr. Helen Goldstein, who specialized in medieval Jewish and Islamic philosophy, and is given to the best undergraduate student research paper or project.
Awardee
Molly Lihs is a double major in Political Science and English with minors in International Relations and Spanish. Professor Ahmed Souaiaia says that, with a strong passion for human rights and humanitarian intervention, Molly plans to continue exploring critical global issues through graduate study. Her commitment to advocacy and academic inquiry positions her as a promising leader in the field.
Alice Lampe Heidel and John B. Heidel Memorial Award
Established in memory of M. Willard Lampe, the founding director of the department and Mrs. Heidel's father; honors a graduate teaching assistant whose commitment to undergraduate teaching is evidenced by the outstanding performance of assigned teaching duties, and exceptional interest in and service to undergraduate students.
Awardee
Allison Isidore was nominated by Professor Cates. Allison is a passionate, devoted, and skilled teacher of undergraduate students. As part of her PhD coursework, she is completing a Graduate Certificate in College Teaching. As part of the Certificate, she had a teaching practicum with Prof. Cates this Spring in the course Engaging Religious Diversity for Entrepreneurship and Leadership, where she showed very impressive teaching skills, and great care for students who had special challenges to overcome. We are excited that this year Allison was also recognized with an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from the University of Iowa Council on Teaching.
Karl Hoffman Award
This award goes to an outstanding junior religious studies major who exhibits academic excellence, the strength of character, and a broad and conscientious concern for ultimate and spiritual questions.
Awardee
Briana Bohling-Hall is a double major in Journalism and Mass Communication and Religious Studies with a minor in Cinema. Professor Dean says that Briana is an exceptional student who is engaged in the study of religion both inside and outside the classroom. She did great work at last year's Spring Undergraduate Research Festival, and her religion and true crime podcast, which she completed with a classmate, was professional-level quality.
M. Willard Lampe Scholarship Fund
Established in 2016 to honor the first Director of the School of Religion, this scholarship will fund a graduate student whose scholarship is likely to engage the public in ways that recognize and acknowledge diverse religious beliefs and foster religious tolerance.
Awardee
Shahla Shahreen was nominated by Professor Souaiaia. She is a first-year PhD student who has done excellent work during her first year, brings a sharp and focused lens to the study of women and terrorism. Balancing the demands of coursework, Shahla has already made an impactful contribution to scholarly discourse, publishing two insightful book reviews this year. Her work deepens our understanding of gender and security in today’s world.
Barbara W. and Rex Montgomery Award
Prof. Rex Montgomery was a long-time supporter of the department and past president of the Advisory Board. This award is given to a graduate or undergraduate student in religious studies based on academic merit.
Awardee
Tucker Gregor was nominated by Professor Cates. Tucker recently completed his comprehensive exams and now is diving into the writing and defense of his dissertation prospectus. His dissertation will analyze some of the ways in which religions provide people with perspectives and strategies for managing the vulnerabilities that condition all human lives. His focus will be on religions’ influences—both helpful and harmful—on people’s abilities to understand and manage their own and other people’s cognitive and emotional vulnerabilities. Tucker has shown great courage and a commitment to continual growth as a scholar.
Barbara W. and Rex Montgomery Award
Prof. Rex Montgomery was a long-time supporter of the department and past president of the Advisory Board. This award is given to a graduate or undergraduate student in religious studies based on academic merit.
Awardee
Elizabeth Von Loh is an Honors Student with a double major in English and Creative Writing and Religious Studies. Professor Dean says that Elizabeth is super engaged. She routinely produces work of the highest quality across a spectrum of Prof. Dean’s classes. Her honors project on Jesus Christ, Superstar was great and will made for a compelling Spring Undergraduate Research Festival poster. She has been active in all of the church crawl outings.
Rev. Louis P. Penningroth Scholarship
Established by Rev. Penningroth's wife to honor her husband, this award goes to a graduate student who demonstrates concern for fellow students through her or his teaching practices and skills as a mentor.
Awardee
Mark Hartsgrove Mooers was nominated by Professor Souaiaia. Mark is a PhD student whose academic interests lie at the intersection of religion and economics. Beyond his research, Mark is a pillar of support in the department—he has been a great mentor to other graduate students, and is always ready to lend a hand to faculty, staff, and fellow graduate students alike. His generosity and collaborative spirit embody the very best of our academic community.
Rev. Louis P. Penningroth Scholarship
Established by Rev. Penningroth's wife to honor her husband, this award goes to a graduate student who demonstrates concern for fellow students through her or his teaching practices and skills as a mentor.
Awardee
Ezekiel Yang was nominated by Professor Schlütter. Ezekiel has been an extremely caring and patient mentor to undergraduate students over the past three years in my courses where he has been the teaching assistant. He has also implemented various innovative and successful teachings practices, and the students have repeatedly shown their great appreciation of all that he does for them. Ezekiel has been a great asset for the department.
Sonia Sands Scholarship Award
This scholarship was established in 1982 from donations to honor Sonia Sands, housemother of the Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity for over 20 years. The award recognizes talented students in the area of Jewish studies.
Awardee
Ella Huber. Ella is a double major in Marketing and Cinema. Prof Holstein says that her intellectual maturity was clearly demonstrated in a recent essay she wrote for Quest for Human Destiny, for which she received a perfect score—a grade he has given only a handful of times in the past 55 years.
Sonia Sands Scholarship Award
This scholarship was established in 1982 from donations to honor Sonia Sands, housemother of the Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity for over 20 years. The award recognizes talented students in the area of Jewish studies.
Awardee
Calliope Coppola. Calliope is majoring in Finance, has been very active in volunteer work, and is graduating this spring. She will attend law school in the fall. She, too, did outstanding work in Prof. Holstein’s Quest for Human Destiny course.
Sonia Sands Scholarship Award
This scholarship was established in 1982 from donations to honor Sonia Sands, housemother of the Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity for over 20 years. The award recognizes talented students in the area of Jewish studies.
Awardee
Arsh Manazir is a pre-med student majoring in Neuroscience. He is passionate about the way in which religious belief impacts human behavior, everyday decision making, and health. He also received a rare perfect score on an essay that he wrote for Professor Holstein’s Quest for Human Dignity class.
Charles Schoen Interfaith Scholarship Award
This scholarship honors the late Charles Schoen, who served on the department’s Advisory Board for eleven years. The award is given to an undergraduate religious studies major, based on the student's academic record.
Awardee
Ferren Dickey is a double major in Religious Studies and Ancient Civilization with a minor in psychology. Professor Schlütter says that she has been a leading voice in two of his courses—Introduction to Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Professor Cates adds that Ferren was super helpful last fall as an unofficial research assistant. As Prof. Cates prepared an address on the topic of religious ethics and political emotions, Ferren not only provided a weekly sounding board, she also read relevant books and articles and gave concise reports on their content.
Robert and Mary Ann Small Stenger Religious Studies Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2014 by a department alumna to provide support to a graduate student in religious studies.
Awardee
Oscar Danladi was nominated by Jenna Supp-Montgomerie. Oscar is a first-year PhD student who done extremely well in all his classes, and has spent much of this first year really developing wide, new capacities in religious studies, transnational feminism, and environmental humanities. Oscar is currently a teaching assistant for the department of Rhetoric where he was just awarded the Doug Trank Memorial Award for his teaching, and for next year he has been appointed as a PDP Co-Leader assisting with training the new Rhetoric Teaching Assistants.
Group photos
2025 Adler graduate awardees
2025 Adler undergraduate awardees
