Zach Selby, Ph.D., assistant professor of Theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), has been selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in two summer seminars. CIC is an association of nonprofit independent colleges that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. SMWC is a member of CIC.
Selby is a second-year faculty member at SMWC teaching theology and philosophy courses. He earned his Ph.D. from Chicago Theological Seminary. Before that, he received a Master of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University after getting his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Belmont University.
Through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), CIC is offering the 2025 NetVUE Faculty Seminar: Teaching Vocational Exploration. Costs are covered by a grant through Lilly Endowment Inc. The seminar is designed to help participants further understand how to serve their students by introducing them to the subject of vocation. The seminar will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from June 2-6.
The CIC has partnered with Interfaith America (IA) for a multidisciplinary seminar on Teaching Interfaith Understanding. Also supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., this seminar will help faculty members examine how interfaith understanding can be taught effectively in a college classroom, enabling students to be more knowledgeable about interfaith engagement and leadership in the classroom and beyond. The seminar will be from June 15-18 in Chicago, Illinois.
Janet Clark, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, was thrilled to learn of Selby’s selection. “I knew from the day I interviewed Dr. Selby that he would be a strong faculty member who champions student vocation and helps students appreciate and understand their faith or spirituality as well as that of others around them.”