IDEALS Symposium Spotlight: Ashley Jones, Christina Zavala, and Christy Cobb

IDEALS Research
Sep 4, 2018 · 4 min read
Left: Christina Zavala; Center: Ashley Jones; Right: Dr. Christy Cobb

This is part of a series featuring IDEALS research awardees presenting at the IDEALS Research Symposium in Atlanta on September 13–14.

Ashley Jones is a Doctoral Candidate at The University of Texas at Austin
Christina Zavala is a Doctoral Student at The University of California, Los Angeles
Christy Cobb is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Wingate University

Presentation title: Understanding the Influence of Interfaith Engagement on Religious Identity, Interfaith Leadership/Service, and Global Citizenship for LGBQ Students

Abstract: Though studies have increasingly examined college students’ religious and spiritual views, less is known about how LGBQ students in particular report on these ideas. In this study, we examined the religious and spiritual views, worldview orientation, and most influential element to their worldview for LGBQ students at the start of their first year of college. Findings revealed that LGBQ students in general tended to identify as nonreligious, spiritual but not religious, and that their family was influential to their worldview. We also found that LGBQ students’ involvement in other civic and diversity engagement was positively related to both developing a greater sense of global citizenship and commitment to interfaith leadership and service.


Q1: Why are you interested in worldview diversity and/or interfaith engagement?

Christy Cobb: I teach at a historically Christian liberal arts university, and many of the students at my institution do not have adequate knowledge or awareness of other religions outside of Christianity. When my students are introduced to another faith, through my classes or through a co-curricular event, they are often intrigued and surprised at what they learn. This is one of the many reasons that I support interfaith engagement and dialogue, both inside and outside of the classroom. As a faculty member in a Religious Studies department, I have a responsibility to engage in global diversity as well as interreligious dialogue and to introduce my students, colleagues, and community to these ideas as well.

I teach at a historically Christian liberal arts university, and many of the students at my institution do not have adequate knowledge or awareness of other religions outside of Christianity. When my students are introduced to another faith, through my classes or through a co-curricular event, they are often intrigued and surprised at what they learn.

Q2: How do your personal research interests align or intersect with IDEALS research? In what unique ways do your personal research interests extend the work of IDEALS?

Christina Zavala: As a higher education scholar, much of my work has focused on centering the voices and experiences of students from underrepresented communities. This re-centering often relies on acknowledging the many identities that students may hold, identities which often come together to create unique experiences that are often not captured in research. Because research has historically focused on majoritarian stories, I as a researcher, often choose to highlight the specific experiences of underrepresented communities rather than examine how their experiences might be similar or different to majoritarian groups.

Because research has historically focused on majoritarian stories, I as a researcher, often choose to highlight the specific experiences of underrepresented communities rather than examine how their experiences might be similar or different to majoritarian groups.

Ashley Jones: I very much value understanding experiences that impact student identity development while in college and interfaith engagement, more broadly. My (recently completed!) dissertation focused on understanding ways in which LGBQ+ undergraduate students experience potential tension with intersections of identity related to spirituality/faith and sexual orientation as well as the influence of the campus environment on identity exploration. When I became aware of the opportunity to learn more about the important work associated with the IDEALS research, which in some ways is a really interesting quantitative lens connected to my qualitative dissertation, I was hooked. I have enjoyed working with colleagues from different backgrounds and academic training to explore this data and look forward to engaging more at the symposium.

Q3: Who is the key audience for your IDEALS-related research? How do you see this audience leveraging IDEALS research to increase understanding/engagement of worldview diversity and interfaith engagement?

Group response: The key audiences for our project are administrators and faculty members who are interested in understanding more about potential ways worldview/spirituality intersect with sexual orientation for students with sexual minoritized identities. We hope that by contributing to the conversation about ways in which LGBQ+ students engage in curricular and co-curricular experiences related to worldview development, there is an increased awareness from faculty/administrators about the impact that various collegiate experiences have on worldview diversity and interfaith engagement.


About the Symposium

The IDEALS Research Symposium will occur on September 13–14 in Atlanta. The Symposium will be a unique gathering where scholars and campus educators can come together to explore cutting-edge research with an emphasis on practical application, build a community of practitioners who have shared learning and language from the IDEALS project, and work to make meaning of the information together.

The gathering will highlight the work of the IDEALS Research Awards, bridge research with campus practice, and feature nationally renowned speakers, including IFYC’s Dr. Eboo Patel, and the Co-Principal Investigators for IDEALS, Dr. Matthew Mayhew and Dr. Alyssa Rockenbach. The program will include engaging and interactive workshops, in-depth discussions of IDEALS findings, and ample opportunities for networking and connecting with peers at other campuses.

IDEALS Research

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The Interfaith Diversity Experiences & Attitudes Longitudinal Study

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