• Course Descriptions
• Pluralism Project
• Midsummer's Light Bible
  Institute
• About Cardinal Newman
• About Dr. Boisclair
• Liberal Studies

 Contact Us:
 boiscl@alaskapacific.edu
 907.561.1266
 
 4101 University Drive
 Anchorage, AK 99508
 

 

 Advanced Search
 Site Map
 
 Log In

Cardinal Newman Chair

APU Affiliated with Harvard University Pluralism Project

Dr. Regina A. Boisclair, the Cardinal Newman Chair of Catholic Thought and Associate Professor of Religious Studies has been nominated as an Affiliate of the Pluralism Project of Dr. Diana Eck at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Pluralism Project was designed by Dr. Diana Eck of Harvard to profile the religious landscape of the United States. It pays particular attention to the growing religious diversity that has sunk roots in North America since 1965.

Dr. Boisclair will profile the religious landscape of the greater Anchorage area. Since the Pluralism Project especially welcomes student participation, Dr. Boisclair tailored her application to show how this whole enterprise fits APU's interest in active learning project based courses. Under Dr. Boisclair's guidance, most of the research will be done by students enrolled during the 1999-2000 academic year in Spiritual Environment or World Religions. Students will write out reports of their own field work. At the end of the year all reports will become resource material for future study. They will be kept at APU as well as at Harvard University. This project provides APU students with an opportunity that transforms an academic exercise into a contribution to knowledge. Each student will be credited for his or her own work.

Rev. Dr. Michael J. Oleksa, adjunct professor at APU, was also nominated as Affiliate of the Harvard Pluralism Project. Oleksa will profile the spiritual landscape of southern Alaska, emphasizing the renewal of Native Alaskan traditions both within and apart from the various Christian denominations. The two scholars plan to cooperate in their separate efforts and provide displays that reflect the status of the project in Grant Hall during the upcoming year.