The two-year project will bring together faculty from Iowa’s three public universities – UNI, the University of Iowa and Iowa State University – for a series of virtual meetings and in-person retreats designed to reimagine the future of religious studies programs amid shifting higher education policies and priorities.

Cornbelt Colloquia will create a collaborative network where faculty can share resources, discuss challenges and explore new approaches to teaching. The initiative includes six virtual meetings over two years and two in-person retreats, where a core group of faculty will work closely to assess the evolving landscape of religious studies and develop strategies for sustaining and strengthening programs across the state. By fostering a peer-to-peer community, Cornbelt Colloquia aims to provide both practical support and renewed vision for faculty.

“Iowa's public universities have award-winning religious studies faculty who teach students to think critically, navigate complex issues in the past and present, and work across differences,” Burnidge said. “These skills are important for Iowa's workforce and vital for lifelong learning. I'm thrilled to have the support of the Wabash Center to bring us together so we can collaborate going forward.”

UNI Department of Philosophy and World Religions faculty will lead the initiative, building on the university’s longstanding leadership in religious literacy, educator development, and innovative, skills-based curriculum design. Outcomes from the project will also be shared nationally through professional organizations such as the American Academy of Religion, offering insights for faculty in other states experiencing similar changes.

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