At College of Saint Mary, students are required to take two theology courses as part of the general education criteria, but theology professor Emily Kahm, PhD, goes beyond the thought of the program being just a college course.
The development of this program over the years leaves Kahm in awe of the students who have entered her class. Knowing that her students want to understand the perception of others through a theological viewpoint is eye-opening. “The conversations that my students have are far away the best part of teaching,” Kahm said.
Theology is “the building blocks of people’s lives.” What is occurring in our world and how students think about these events allows them to connect with one another. “We’re studying how people’s spiritual and religious beliefs impact them in the world and how they affect our institutions, politics, and the things around us,” Kahm said. The universal backgrounds of others make the theology conversations more interesting at the University.
A large percentage of the students who attend CSM come from a variety of religious backgrounds, which is an asset. The program is set with the intention that students come from diverse environments, whether they’re religious individuals or not. “All of that is welcome and extremely valuable” on our campus, Kahm said. In other words, curiosity is a major highlight when taking a theology course at CSM.
The Wabash Institute, which Dr. Kahm is a member of, is nationally and internationally well-known. It is focused on those who teach religious and theology courses at their universities. The goal of “Wabashers” is to learn how to become a better teacher for yourself and your students. With the desire to grow CSM’s theology program, Kahm has made it her priority to incorporate diverse authors and women of color into her course material.
Theology can be a tough class for students who do not know what to expect and causes anxiety. The question of what her students believe in and how it connects to their lives provides comfort. The feeling of goodwill carries students forward in connecting to one another and the self-growth illustrated from group discussions.
The intimacy that comes with the size of our college allows Kahm to build connections with her students and the faculty and staff. This allows her to get to know everyone she crosses paths with throughout her day.
“I am most proud of how accessible our school is to a wide variety of students,” Kahm said.
Students at CSM are lifted up by their professors so they aren’t getting lost in their course loads. “We specialize in messy here, knowing our students have complicated and busy lives,” she said. “We’re about women supporting women so everyone can become successful makes our institution unique.”
By Chloe Inhelder
