Knox College Holds Second Annual Religious Studies Conference

The Knox College Religious Studies program held its second annual Undergraduate Religious Studies Conference on October 24 and 25 at the Ford Center for the Fine Arts. The conference's purpose was to provide undergraduate students a forum to present their research to peers and faculty, helping them improve future projects. Students who completed work in classes, research studies, or Richter projects had the opportunity to share their findings with an audience.

The idea for the conference came to Visiting Professor of Religious Studies Scott Harris while thinking of ways to share work by undergraduate students on a broader scale.

“To have a roomful of people who are interested in the same topic, that doesn’t happen often, so these students are all excited to talk about this," Harris said. “I’ve taken a number of Knox students to other conferences that are specifically designed for undergraduate students, but there are very few; there are not a lot of venues for undergraduates to present original research off campus, and not just at Knox, but also at other area institutions.”

The conference was sponsored by the Knight Fund for Religion and Culture and brought students from around the state to campus. 

“I felt the Knight Fund exists to support student research, faculty research, and inquiry into religion, so why don’t we provide a venue?” Harris asked. “We have the resources, a great venue, and it’s easy to get here. So, I worked with a few of my colleagues and did some cold calling to local institutions. I think the response was really encouraging.”

The theme of this year's conference was “Religions In/and/Out/of Time.” The goal was to keep the theme open-ended, allowing more students the opportunity to present.

“I try to be as expansive as possible, and if you look through the program, you may have to squint a little, but that’s what I think makes it more fun,” Harris said. “The students get to see that you can talk about NCAA athletics and use these tools from religious studies together, and that’s an interesting way to talk about something that I never thought of. That has been beneficial for us, to have a little more open-mindedness, not be too restrictive in the theme.”

After a successful debut last year, in its second year, the event grew to 30 presenters representing eight institutions. Colleges represented at the conference were: Avila University, Loyola University Chicago, Rockford University, Lindenwood University, Davidson College, Knox College, RMIT University Vietnam, and Rockford Auburn High School, The event was open to any undergraduate student presenting original or creative work related to the connections between religion and identity. Students came from all backgrounds and fields of study. 

“Not all of these students are interested in pursuing religion as a profession or graduate study, but have done work in class that’s worth putting into conversation with each other, so it’s a space for students to have a low-stakes idea-sharing environment,” Harris said. “For faculty, a real draw is to give our students more mileage out of their work. To have a way to celebrate what students have done and have them share publicly with their peers who are interested in the same thing, it’s a rewarding experience for faculty and students.”

Whether a veteran or a first-timer presenting research, Knox students took advantage of the opportunity to showcase their work.

“I haven’t done research like this before, but it was a great first experience. It encouraged me to keep developing this project and explore it further in the future,” said Fahad Ahmed Joy ’28, whose presentation was titled Artificial Intelligence and Religion in Bangladesh, exploring how AI is shaping religious practices and beliefs, and how communities in Bangladesh are responding to these technological changes. 

“I conducted interviews, read books and web articles, and gathered insights from Professor (Robert) Geraci, who offered helpful perspectives on the relationship between AI and religion. This mix of personal research and expert guidance gave me a deeper understanding of the topic.”

Participants from as far away as Vietnam also gave virtual presentations, adding to the global feel of the conference.

The conference featured keynote speaker Professor Leslie Dorrough Smith from Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. Dorrough Smith is the dean of arts and sciences and a professor of religious studies and women's and gender studies. She specializes in the study of American evangelicalism and gender, race, and politics. Dorrough Smith based her lecture on her newest book: Religions of the World: Questions, Challenges, and New Directions.

“This particular book broke my brain in a good way, as I began to really think through what it means to do research, why it is important that our research looks a particular way, and most importantly, I think for those of us who study religion, what we have to offer is a field when it comes to research, and what good research looks like,” Dorrough Smith said.

The conference marked the beginning of continued collaboration among Harris, students, and regional peers. Plans are in place to host a conference each term, giving students recurring opportunities to present and refine their work. The Midwest Regional Meeting for Biblical Studies in South Bend, Indiana, has an undergraduate student conference in February, and Rockford University hosts an undergraduate humanities conference in April, giving students opportunities to present multiple times and build on their progress. 

Joy is one of those Knox students looking forward to the chance to upgrade his work and present in the future. 

“I think the biggest benefit is getting to share something you’re genuinely interested in,” Joy said. “It also builds confidence—especially when presenting in front of a large group. I presented in front of about 20 people, and it really helped me practice public speaking and learn how to engage an audience. It’s also inspiring to hear feedback and see how others connect to your topic.”

Published on November 24, 2025

- Scott Holland, Knox College Office of Communications