2026 Annual Meeting - Denver

Friday, November 20, 2026

12:30-4:30pm, Colorado Convention Center, room 201 (street level)

Rethinking Interreligious Literacy in Today’s Context: Annual Meeting of the Association of Interreligious/Interfaith Studies

The annual meeting of AIIS pairs dynamic panel presentations with small group dialogues engaging all participants in scholarly conversations shaping the field of interreligious studies. This year, our sessions invite a fresh assessment of what we mean by interreligious literacy, how we build community capacities for interreligious literacy, and what interreligious literacy looks like in the age of AI. The Friday meeting opens with a panel of scholars discussing emerging trends in interreligious literacy and education. Everyone will then be invited into structured, small-group dialogues to learn more about shifting understandings of interreligious literacy in the face of polycrisis. The final panel brings together leaders from partner organizations to share about how they are helping communities build the skills for interreligious literacy, interfaith storytelling, and social change locally in Denver and in broader national and even global contexts. A dinner reception will follow.

Panel 1: Emerging Trends in Interreligious Literacy and Education*

  • Presiding: Valeria Vergani, Stanford University

    Panelists

    • Samah Choudhury, Assistant Professor, DePaul University

    • Soren M. Hessler, Assistant Professor in the Practice of Leadership and Administration at Candler School of Theology, Emory University and Treasurer of the Association for Interreligious/Interfaith Studies

    • Shaunesse’ Jacobs Plaisimond, Assistant Professor, Religion & Health, University of South Florida

    • Laurel Marshall Potter, Assistant Professor, Theology, University of St. Thomas

    • Kate E. Soules, Executive Director, Religion & Education Collaborative

    • Jizhang Yi, Director, Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought & Practice at Trinity College, University of Toronto

*Panel includes emerging scholars from the 2026-27 Jay Phillips Center Scholars in Interreligious Studies cohort


Panel 2: Helping Communities Build Skills for Interreligious Literacy

  • Presiding: Benjamin E. Sax, Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies

    Panelists

    • Amanda Henderson, Director of the Institute for Religion, Politics & Culture and Littleton, CO City Council Member

    • Katie Hyten, Co-Executive Director, Essential Partners

5:30pm - 8:30pm: Dinner & Evening Social Hour: Wynkoop, 1634 18th Street, Denver, CO 80202

Sunday, November 22, 2026

Time: TBD, Colorado Convention Center

Interreligious Literacy in the Age of AI

This session brings together scholars doing cutting-edge research on religion and AI—including analyzing how AI large language models are shaping how people learn across religious difference, the challenges this presents, and possibilities for promoting interreligious literacy for AI, as well as the ethical issues of data centers. In light of this research, everyone will be invited to engage in structured, small group dialogues to learn more about the different hopes and concerns that are influencing shifting understandings of interreligious literacy in the age of AI. (*no registration required for this session)

  • Presiding: Kevin Minister, Senior Scholar in Residence, Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies, University of St. Thomas

    Panelists

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