Awards & Honors 1995 - 2009

Carpenter, Whitney
“A Quest to Establish Marriage and Family Values Based on Scriptural Analysis”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Conley, Amanda
“Christianity in a Modern Economy”
Advisors: Ross Laroe & David O. Woodyard

Hardy, Mary
“Relations through the Lens of Martin Buber’s I and Thou”
Advisors: David O. Woodyard

Hypes, Elizabeth
Meeker, Anna
“An Exploration of 9/11: American Empire and the Biblical Tradition”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Kailey, Michelle
“Rene Girard: Solving the Problem between Domestic Violence and the Atonement”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Novak, Amy
“Addiction and Recovery: The Role of God in Alcoholism”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Pincus, Andrew
“Paul Tillich: An Exploration of Non-Being and Ultimate Concern”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Akhbari, Elyse
“Our Nature, Under God”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Jaus, Margaret
“Calling Our Dominant Consciousness into Question”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Neader, Reese
“Translating the Hopewell Episode in Context: Understanding History”
Advisor: John Cort

Peverall, Katlin
“Religious Tensions within the Body Politic: The Industry of a Stigmatized Faith”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

St. Clair, Katherine
“Public Policy and Catholic Tradition”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Volpe, Lauren
“‘I Now Pronounce You Man and Wives’: Examining the Patriarchy of Polygamy through the Narratives of the Women Who Live/d It”
Advisor: Carla Ingrando

Anderson, Karen
“A Search for Christian Integrity in Three Modern Christian Communities”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Brammer, Keith
“Sin: Individualistic, Societal, or Both: A Biblical Basis for a Middle Ground”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Dance, Leigh
“The Blending of Religion and Politics in America”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Dixon, Stephanie
“How Does Religion Affect the Social Order? A Study of the Impact of liberation Theology on the Catholic Church in El Salvador”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Howie, Lauren
“Making Our Own Decisions: A Look at Religious Identity Politics and the Effects on Mid-Adolescents”
Advisor: Jennifer B. Saunders

Pippenger, Laura
“From a Wealth of Gospel to a Gospel of Wealth: Poverty to Prosperity”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Stixurd, Elliott
“James Dobson and the Religious right in Modern American Politics”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Caryer, Lauren
“To Understand the Word: Three Modes of Christian Theology”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Dougherty, Mark
“The Influence of the Catholic Church in the Mexican Educational System”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Holtze, Fulya Ercan
Rogers, Anne
Rogers, Leigh
Slotkin, Sarah
Wise, Rachel
“Christianity ‘Coming Out of the Closet’: Reevaluating Homosexuality in Today’s Culture “
Advisors: David O. Woodyard & Frederick Porcheddu

Izzo, Dan
Wagner, John
“The Theology of Poverty”
Advisors: David O. Woodyard & Andrea Ziegert

Riggle, Tracy
“Black Liberation Theology: Exploring the Theology of James H. Cone”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Wilson, Sarah
“The Transcendent and Immanent God in Modern Society”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Caryer, Lauren
“The Biblical Sense of Community and Unwed Mothers”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Copenheffer, Elise
“Jesus: Personal Savior or Social Critic?”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Grosse, Stephen
“The Relationship of Religion, Spirituality, and Healing”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Hart, Jennifer
“Missionization and Development: The Role of the Church in the West African Development Enterprise”
Advisor: James Pletcher

Hotler, Kathryn W.
“Liberation Theology and Hispanic Young Women’s Movements”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Thornberg, Annette
“Truth through Tales: Giving Laws Strength through Narrative”
Advisor: Harold Van Breokhoven

Vajskop, Amanda
“The Abuse of Women and the Christian Tradition”
Advisor: Joan Novak

Byrnes, Chris
“Catholic Theology and Interreligious Dialogue in Columbus, Ohio: The Catholic Church in a Hindu Culture”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Grosse, Stephen
“God Concepts and Environmental Responsibility”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Hupp, Andrew
“Land and Agricultural Ethics in the Taoist and Buddhist Traditions”
Advisor: John Cort

Love, Carlyn
“God as Being or Becoming”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Meade, Ashley
“The Buddhist Concept of Duhkha”
Advisor: John Cort

Teitelbaum, Emily
“Pluralism and the New Religious America”
Advisor: John Cort

Henning, Meghan
“Striking Balance: The Ongoing Dialogue between Self and Community”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Ivy, Duane
“Roadmaps Towards Liberation: A Study in James Cone’s Liberation Theology”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Rohrer, Daniel<
“Civil Religion Verses Christian Imagination: Biblical Symbols in American Culture;
or Reinhold Niebuhr in 2002: American Religion & American Politics”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Ruiz, Ryan
“Catholic Social Teaching: Peace on Earth in a Nuclear Age”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Smith, Sarah
“Christology: Moving from the Traditional To a Political, Subversive Understanding;
or Analyzing Christianity and Specifically Liberation Theology as a Means for Social Action and Change”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

DeCesare, Michael
“Christianity and Economics in America: A Study of the Church’s Role in Social Transformation”
Advisor: Harwood, Katherine

Neal, Amber
Rohrer, Daniel
“Christianity and Economics: A Study of the Church’s Role in Social Transformation”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Henning, Meghan
“The Enculturation of the Church and the Prophetic Tradition”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Egan, Rachel
“Society, Poverty, and Religion: A Connection: A Look into Utica, Ohio”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Fisher, Dan
“Moment to Moment: Buddhism in the World’s Prison Systems”
Advisor: John Cort

Frick, Heather
“An End to Injustice: A Critical Look at Our Metaphorical Conceptions of God and Their Effects on the Abused Women’s Search for Hope”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Krzys, Jerry
“Problems at Home: Poverty in Newark, Ohio and the Christian Response”
Advisors: David O. Woodyard & Andrea Ziegert

Griffith, Sarah
Neal, Amber
Newton, Ashley
“Justice and the United States Health Care System”
Advisors: Joan Novak & Marci McCaulay

Kwedar, Kimberly
“The Courage to Be: An Analysis of the Theology of Paul Tillich”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Wilson, Kalyn
“Myth and Modern Magick: The Influence of Celtic Mythology on Contemporary Paganism”
Advisor: Joan Novak

Eanet, Matthew
“Introducing the Basic Texts of Judaism: Responses to the Destruction of the Second Temple in Classical Rabbinic Literature”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Fisher, Dan
“Vegetarians and Process Theologians and Ecofeminists! Oh, My!: A Dialogue Between the Theology and Ethics of the Animal Rights Movement for the Christian Community”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Garrett, Joi
“The Emergence and Survival of Rastifarians”
Advisor: John Jackson

Krzys, Jerry
“Poverty, Morality and the Response of the Church”
Advisors: David O. Woodyard & Paul King

Riggle, Kelly
“The Injustices of Our Economy and Its allocation of Resources: Out of This Crisis, Where Does Religion Emerge?”
Advisors: David O. Woodyard & Paul King

Bailey, Jamel
“Religion and Civic Responsibility: What Must Be Done to Liberate All Those Who are Oppressed?”
Advisor: John Jackson

Bardou, Kristen
“Culture Conflicts and Social Injustices: Our Need for Liberation Theology”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Baum, Melissa
“Visions of a Cultural and Theological Awakening: The Resurgence of Jewry After the Holocaust”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Carpenter, Kelly
“Culture Conflicts and Social Injustices: Our Need for Liberation Theology”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Kocheran, Tara
“Reconceiving Christianity: Moving from a Theology of Abuse to a Theology of Liberation”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Kroll, James
“The Holocaust as a Prismatic Event”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Norton, Joel
“The Holocaust as a Prismatic Event”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Nutting, Elizabeth
“The Holocaust as a Prismatic Event”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Plowgian, Michael
“The Holocaust as a Prismatic Event”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Bardou, Kristen
Carpenter, Kelly
Lewis, Macciano
Nigh, Eric
“Religion, Economics, and the Environment: Three of the World’s Most Integral Components”
Advisors: David O. Woodyard & Paul King

Lee, Kevin
“How Patriarchal Values Have Influenced the Treatment of HIV-Infected Women and Gay Men”
Advisor: Joan Novak

Williams, Kristin
“The Bible in the Political Realm: How Different Understandings of Scripture Influence Christian Debate Over Contemporary Issues”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

Benko, Heather
“Trying to Transform the American Political System to Aid in the Struggle for Justice”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Dodson, Natalie
Hulse, Andrew
Richards, Jacqueline (Lizette)
Roberts, Todd
Watson, Leanne
“Beyond Us and Them: Transcending Realms of Economics and Theology to Create an Earth Centered Ethic in the Community of Life”
Advisors: David O. Woodyard & Paul King

Ard, Amy
“Theoretical Framework for the Deconstruction and Reconstruction of the American Family”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard

Hulse, Andy
“Agricultural Theology: Toward and Ethic of Inclusive Interdependence”
Advisor: Joan Novak

Potts, Grant
“Mothers and Fathers: A Study of Four Major Voices in the American Neo-Pagan Community”
Advisor: Harold Van Broekhoven

O’Bryan, Megan
“The Dialogue between Religion and Psychology”
Advisor: David O. Woodyard