Department of Religion and Classics

Society & Culture

The stories behind Hanukkah’s signature fried foods

December 11, 2025

Hanukkah foods include latkes and fried jelly donuts. Professor Nora Rubel explains how such dishes carry meaning beyond the kitchen.

Campus & Community

We are the world: URochester students learn, work, and research across the globe

December 10, 2025

From traditional study abroad to life-changing community service, the University offers an education abroad experience for virtually anyone.

Uncategorized

Daniel Beaumont, an expert on Arabian medieval literature and language, remembered

September 5, 2025

From medieval Arabic texts to Delta blues, Beaumont left students with lessons that shaped both intellect and identity.

Campus & Community

Back-to-school meets future-ready: New academic programs at Rochester

September 13, 2024

The range of recently launched degree programs reflects what students, the workforce, and the world need and want to become ever better.

Uncategorized

Professors of religion, writing, and biomedical engineering recognized for teaching excellence

October 25, 2023

Whitney Gegg-Harrison, Jack Downey, and James McGrath approach undergraduate teaching at Rochester in distinctive ways that resonate with their students.

Campus & Community

Jack Downey: Family tragedy channeled into a passion for social justice

October 25, 2023

The associate professor of religion helps shape the perspectives of his undergraduates not only at the University, but also at area prisons.

Campus & Community

The ethics of dark tourism

January 19, 2023

Julia Granato crisscrossed Europe to study human bone collection and display sites. Now she’s pondering what it means to display and visit human remains.

Society & Culture

Rochester’s college-in-prison program becomes western New York’s prison education hub

December 15, 2022

The Mellon Foundation has renewed its support for the Rochester Education Justice Initiative with an additional three-year, $1 million grant.

University News

Emil Homerin: An American religion scholar remembered

January 11, 2021

A leading scholar of Sufi poetry and mysticism, Emil Homerin is remembered by his students and colleagues for his enthusiasm and generosity

Society & Culture

University prison education initiative awarded major grant from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

June 12, 2020

The University's cornerstone prison education initiative receives a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand and further develop its programming.