Visiting Assistant Professor Brandon Dean has about a dozen undergraduate students who get together regularly to discuss ideas about community places and events centered around religion that are of interest to them and others. 

The Religious Studies Undergraduate Steering Committee is a new group of dedicated majors, minors, and other interested students who have been collaborating this semester to bring engaging and fun outreach activities to the department. Their first big event—a Halloween party following a guided cemetery walk—was a resounding success. The team managed to transform Gilmore Hall in under 30 minutes, entertain a crowd of around thirty people despite a few last-minute technical glitches with the DVD player, and clean up seamlessly afterward.

In addition, the second annual Cemetery Walk welcomed students and the public to a walking tour of Oakland Cemetery, where Prof. Dean discussed how to read the headstones to get a better picture of Iowa City through the years.

The Steering Committee recently hosted an exclusive election-themed movie night featuring God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust, and they’re already planning for the spring semester. Up next is a global religious foods-themed potluck dinner, complete with educational demonstrations and entertainment. Stay tuned for more exciting events and opportunities to connect with the Religious Studies
community!

To read more about Prof. Dean’s Cemetery Walk as featured in the Cedar Rapids Gazette article by Vanessa Miller follow this link: https://www.thegazette.com/higher-education/readingcemeteries-reveals-clues-about-past-and-present-university-of-iowa-professor-says/