Sydney Dudley Wins Outstanding Student in Religion Award

 Senior religion major Sydney Dudley has been named one of two Outstanding Students in Religion by the religion faculty at James Madison University.  She will graduate as a class valedictorian this spring and, after graduating, she will spend a year serving as a full-time intern at the Community of St. Mary in Sewanee, Tennessee.  While there, she will apply for graduate studies in religion and contine the discernment process for ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church.  She also plans to continue to engage in advocacy work pertaining to both LGBTQIA+ equity and inclusion and climate justice, applying her knowledge of world religions to offer fresh approaches to these social issues. 

When asked about her experience as a religion major, Dudley commented, "When I first came to JMU, I had no idea we offered a religious studies program.  I found out about the department from a friend who had taken Dr. Kirk's New Testament course.  Intrigued, I enrolled in both the New Testament class, REL 202, and REL 101, Religions of the World, with Dr. Brown.  In these classes, I fell in love with the academic study of religion and decided to declare Philosophy and Religion as a second major."  In reflecting on what she learned in her religion courses, Dudley said, "Studying religion at JMU has taught me so much about different perspectives and worldviews and has strengthened my abilities as a scholar, writer, public speaker, and advocate.  One of the biggest lessons I have learned from my religion courses is how to navigate difficult conversations surronding spirituality and sociopolitical issues with grace, empathy, and compassion.  Religion touches all areas of society, and studying it in-depth has prepared me to navigate the intersections between religion and contemporary challenges."