UNI Philosophy & Religious Studies

09/08/2026

Our first Coffee and Conversation of the semester will be this Friday from 3:30-5. We hope you can join us in our new location, Seerley 311!

The department is pleased to announce its fall 2026 Coffee and Conversation schedule. Join us on the dates below, starting this Friday!

What is Coffee and Conversation? It is coffee, treats, and conversation with faculty and students of history, ethics, philosophy, religious studies, anthropology, and sustainability. Coffee and Conversation is a place where you can make connections with those interested in the same things that interest you. You do not have to be a major or minor in these programs--everyone is welcome!

09/03/2026

Interested in UNI’s 150th? Check out the resources below!

The Iowa State Normal School welcomed its first class on September 6, 1876, and History faculty and students are working to celebrate UNI's 150th! Read all about it in Inside UNI.

Professor Brian Rumsey's class podcasts on the history of UNI (with link to the podcasts at UNI ScholarWorks): https://insideuni.uni.edu/campus-community/uni-students-dive-deep-150-year-history-through-podcast-project

Professor Barbara Cutter's study of general education (with link to the digital exhibit): https://insideuni.uni.edu/what-should-every-uni-student-learn-150-years-evolving-answer

Professor Kevin Mason's exploration of UNI published in Iowa History Journal (with link to the published article): https://insideuni.uni.edu/campus-community/true-spirit-strong-knowledge-150-years-university-northern-iowa

The department has a number of upcoming talks and events to continue the celebration this fall, so watch for details and keep celebrating with us. Happy 150th, UNI!

09/03/2026

Hope to see you there!

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The University of Northern Iowa’s Humanities Hub will host Robert Townsend, director of Humanities, Arts, and Culture Programs at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, for a lecture exploring the value of a humanities education and how students can translate their colleg...

08/26/2026

Welcome, Prof. Sabillo!

The Department of History is pleased to welcome William (Will) Carlo Abad Sabillo as a new Assistant Adjunct Professor of Ethics. Professor Sabillo is a specialist in ethics and emerging technologies and in religious ethics. He is completing his Ph.D. at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, with an MA in Historical Theology from Wheaton College, and a BS in Religious Studies from Liberty University.

Q: What are your teaching and research interests? A: Bioethics (Patient-centered Care, PT Ethics, Narrative and Embodied Care), Human Ethics and Emerging Technologies, Religious Ethics, Care Ethics, Løgstrup and Bonhoeffer Studies, Church History

Q: Previous Experience/Background? A: Previously, I have served as Co-Convener for the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics (SSCE) in the UK. With my co-conveners, we organized and facilitated conferences at various universities in England and Scotland. In that position, I also organized online seminars with a wide range of theological ethicists across the UK and Europe addressing subjects spanning bioethics, environmental ethics, animal welfare, business ethics, and peace studies. While at the University of Aberdeen, I taught courses on early Church history, ancient conceptions of health and healing, and death studies in the ANE. Before that, I served as a theology professor at a seminary in the Philippines, teaching courses on Church history, systematics, and societal ethics. I served as a graduate student chaplain at Wheaton College. I also served as a hospital chaplain intern for Atrium Health (PICU, oncology, and palliative care). Finally, I had the privilege of learning archival work at the Marion E. Wade Center for a few years. Working with books from C.S. Lewis’ library (with margins full of notations), the letters and manuscripts of Dorothy L. Sayers, and some artifacts from J.R.R. Tolkien was slightly surreal.

Q: What brought you to UNI? A: UNI forms students to be both exemplary professionals and deeply-engaged, ethical persons. What our communities and broader society need from students and young professionals is not a neutralizing of their values, beliefs, and ethics. Rather, it is necessary that we direct students to critically-engage with their values, beliefs, and respective ethics so as to navigate the way forward. UNI embodies this in its programs, and I desire to embody that conviction and initiative as well.

Q: Anything else you'd like to share? A: I was born in south-central Philippines (Cebu), but I grew up in south-central Georgia (Macon). Both places, at times, seem to share the same climate. In my free time, I enjoy powerlifting, fishing, roasting coffee, and drumming. I nerd out about fountain pens, nice ink, and good paper. I am also an avid sports fan, especially college football and MLB. So, should you ever want to discuss coffee over a coffee, share your secret fishing spot, or talk sports, feel free to stop by and chat. It is a privilege to be a part of this collegial community, and I thoroughly look forward to serving the student body at UNI alongside you all.

Welcome to UNI, Professor Sabillo!

08/25/2026

Welcome to Professor Butool!

The Department of History is pleased to welcome Dr. Beena Butool as a new Assistant Professor of Instruction and Wilson Ethics Fellow. Professor Butool is a specialist in religious ethics and early Islam, earning her Ph.D. from Florida State University, her MPhil degree from Cambridge in the UK, and her BA and MA degrees from University of Karachi in Pakistan.

Q: What are your teaching and research interests? A: My teaching and research interests include Religious Ethics, Early Islamic History, and Religion and Science. My research explores the impact of early Islamic empire on Muslim ethics. Consequently, I studied Muslim and Christian ethics, paying close attention to the medieval milieu shared by Muslims and Christians during the expansion of early Islamic empire (7th-9th C). Similarly, I like teaching courses on religious ethics with a comparative approach, incorporating Muslim and Christian ethics. At UNI, I will be teaching ‘Religion and Ethics’ and ‘Religions of the World.’ Additionally, I have experience teaching courses like ‘Islamic Traditions,’ ‘Biomedical Ethics ‘, ‘Religion, Magic, and Science’. When I teach, my goal is to equip my students with the skills needed to study the past in ways that enable them to critically examine the ethical and political claims made by religious communities today.

Q: Previous Experience/Background? A: I previously taught courses such as ‘Philosophy, Logic, Ethics’ and ‘Religious Ethics and Moral Problems’. I started off as a scholar of International Relations but my interest in the ethical arguments offered by religious communities about war and empire led me to the study of religious ethics. Prior to UNI, I served as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Nazareth University in Rochester, New York from 2024 to 2026 where I taught courses on biomedical ethics, religious studies, and religion and science. I also worked closely with the Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue and served on the coordinating committee for the annual conference on Sacred Texts and Human Contexts, while later serving as the co-editor for a volume on the same topic.

Q: What brought you to UNI? A: When I first visited UNI, I was moved with the energy exhibited by the faculty, students, and the wider campus community in their enthusiasm for the humanities. The College of Business’s Wilson Ethics Fellowship and Philosophy and World Religions programs are great platforms to build a robust curriculum for applied ethics. For me, the recent merger between the Department of Philosophy and World Religions and the Department of History was equally exciting because it energized the pursuit of my academic interests. As far as Iowa is concerned, I have found the Midwest’s charm very endearing, increasing my enthusiasm for meeting students and faculty at UNI.

Q: Anything else you'd like to share? A: My hobbies include reading, meditation, listening to podcasts, watching scary movies, and shopping at Blain’s Farm & Fleet!

Welcome to UNI, Professor Butool!

08/24/2026

The Department of History is pleased to welcome Dr. Scott Anderson as a new Assistant Professor of Instruction. Professor Anderson is a specialist in US history, earning his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, his Master's degree from Baylor University, and his Bachelor's degree from University of Northwestern--St. Paul.

Q: What are your teaching and research interests? A: I love teaching students about the ‘big events’ of American history, especially in ways that help students consider their relevance to the present! My research focus is on Midwestern History: I’m currently wrapping up a book on the Black Brigade of Cincinnati and beginning a new project on the Halloween Blizzard of 1991.

Q: Previous Experience/Background? A: I have been teaching—both as an adjunct and as a graduate teaching assistant—since 2018 at both private and public institutions, including Mizzou, Mary Hardin-Baylor, and UNW. The class topics have varied greatly, but probably my favorite experience so far was teaching an upper-level course on the 1980s.

Q: What brought you to UNI? A: I grew up in Prairie du Chien, WI, and my family lives in Iowa and the surrounding states. It’s great to be back in the heart of the Midwest in a welcoming department and community! One of the things I’m most looking forward to is getting to mentor undergraduate and graduate students more closely in UNI’s smaller class sizes.

Q: Anything else you'd like to share? A: I did a study-abroad at Oxford University and interned at the MN State Capitol as an undergraduate. I always encourage students to think creatively about how educational experiences like these can stretch and prepare them for their lives ahead!

Welcome to UNI, Professor Anderson!

08/24/2026

Welcome to the start of the new academic year! Please join the Department of History for our annual Fall Welcome Party on Wednesday at 3:00 outside Seerley Hall. Meet up with new friends and old, visit with department faculty, and enjoy snacks and swag. All are welcome!

08/24/2026

New year, new look. Philosophy and Religious Studies have joined the History Department in Seerley Hall. Stay tuned for more info and updates this week!

05/20/2026

Exciting news from Professor Burnidge, who was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning. The grant will establish "Cornbelt Colloquia," a collaborative initiative connecting Religious Studies faculty across the state’s public universities.

READ MORE:
https://insideuni.uni.edu/campus-community/uni-professor-awarded-30000-grant-launch-statewide-religious-studies-initiative

05/17/2026

Do we spy Philosophy major Caitlyn Wylie? Congrats, Caitlyn!