Invited Speaking Engagements
One of my favorite things to do professionally is facilitate and take part in interfaith and intercultural dialogue. I have given academic talks and guest sermons at churches, mosques, temples, colleges, and universities. Below is a photo taken at the East Texas Islamic Society. I have spoken at a great variety events. This includes several occasions at the University of Texas at Tyler (including a panel on the Syrian Refugee Crisis), UT Dallas, Stephen F Austin University, Wiley College (an historically Black Texas college), the UT Biomedical Research Center, the TJC Honors Program, the TJC Black Student Association, the TJC Arts Festival, the TJC Planetarium (CESSE), the Tyler Public Library, area churches (including congregations in Tyler, Longview, Nacogdoches, and Lufkin), the East Texas Islamic Society, and both of Tyler’s synagogues. The central theme of nearly all of these talks has been promoting understanding and cooperation between diverse communities. My community outreach has been highlighted by several local news affiliates, including the Tyler Morning Telegraph and CBS 19.
9 May 2023 – Invited Speaker
TJC Honors Graduation Ceremony
Wise Auditorium, TJC: the College of East Texas
1 Nov 2022 – Invited Speaker
The Philosophy of Time
Guest Lecturer for Honors Colloquium, TJC
6 Apr 2022 – Invited Speaker
The Importance of Passover (for Christians)
First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore, Texas
8 Dec 2021 – Invited Speaker
Best Study Practices
Sigma Kappa Delta, TJC (Apache Room)
29 Sep 2021 – Invited Speaker
What Christians can learn from Jewish Tradition
First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore, Texas
27 April 2021
Breaking of the Ramadan Fast
The Tyler Mosque, Texas
2020
There was a Global Pandemic going on...
8 Apr 2019 – Speaker
The Kaaba: the Center of the Islamic World
Tyler Junior College, Jenkins Hall (J1109)
6 Jan 2019 – Speaker
Sibling Rivalry in the Bible
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
19 Oct 2018 – Speaker
God & the Holocaust: Four Jewish Responses
Invited Lecture at the University of Texas, Tyler Campus
7 Oct 2018 – Speaker
Forgiveness in the Torah
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
17 Apr 2018 – Speaker/Moderator
Hearing Each Other: Tolerance & Interfaith Dialogue
Featuring Rabbi N. Katz, Rev G. Brandt, & A. Khalifa (Tyler Mosque)
Wise Auditorium, Tyler Junior College (Media Spot: CBS)
13 Apr 2018
Dr. Zsuzsi Ozsváth, Holocaust Survivor: Yom HaShoah Pres.
Nishmat Am (Conservative Synagogue)
10 Apr 2018 – Speaker
The Book of Kells: Irish Christianity’s Most Cherished Artifact
Tyler Junior College, Library
4 Mar 2018 – Speaker
The Righteous at Yad Vashem
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
22 Feb 2018 – Committee Member / Organizer
TJC Distinguished Lecture Series: Judge Morris Overstreet
Jean Browne Theatre, Tyler
2 Feb 2018 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Brothers in Genesis
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
12 Nov 2017 – Speaker
Beth El, Hebrew High class: Early Christianity
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
5 Nov 2017 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Sibling Rivalry & Interfaith Dialogue
UU Church of Longview
16 Oct 2017 – Speaker
Honors Colloquium: On Religious Tolerance
Tyler Junior College, Wise Auditorium
30 Sep 2017 – Speaker
Yom Kippur Sermon: There’s No Bottom
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
17 Sep 2017 – Speaker
Antisemitism in America
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
29 July 2017
Shabbat Service with Campers
Greene Family Camp, Texas
25 July 2017 – Speaker
Interfaith Discussion Panel
Wiley College, Marshall
21 July 2017 – Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: The Jews of Ireland
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
21 July 2017 – Speaker
FIlm Interview for One God, Three Faiths
San Antonio filmmaker
7 July 2017 – Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: Parashat Balak (“A People Who Dwells Alone”)
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
20 June 2017
Open House at the Mosque
Longview Islamic Center
21 May 2017 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Teshuvah and Isaac Singer’s The Penitent
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
7 May 2017
Texas Peace Summit
First Christian Church, Tyler
24 Apr 2017 – Speaker
The Philosophy of Star Wars
Tyler Junior College, Library
9 April 2017 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
UU Church of Longview
26 March 2017 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
11 January 2017 – Panelist
Professional Development: Diversity Roundtable
Tyler Junior College, Jenkins Hall
20 November 2016 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Confucianism
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
4 November 2016 – Panelist
Faith & Justice: Exploring the Crisis of Empathy
Stephen F. Austin University
20 October 2016 – Speaker
The Scope & Philosophy of Science
Public Science Lecture Series: Center for Earth & Space Science Education
12 October 2016 – Speaker
Yom Kippur Afternoon Sermon: On Solitude
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
21 September 2016
Art of Peace Festival: Peace Meal
University of Texas at Tyler
18 September 2016 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Golden Age of Islam
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
20 August 2016 – Speaker
The Golden Age of Islam
East Texas Islamic Society (Tyler Mosque)
11 July 2016 – Speaker
Islam with Anwar Khalifa
First Methodist Church, Nacogdoches6 May 2016 – Speaker
Yom HaShoah Sermon: Beth El's Holocaust Scroll
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
1 May 2016 – Speaker
Yom HaShoah Presentation
Ahavath Achim (Conservative Synagogue), Tyler
10 April 2016 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Biblical Marriage
UU Church of Longview
30 March 2016 – Speaker
Islam with Anwar Khalifa
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nacogdoches
18 March 2016 – Speaker
Honors Coffee Hour: ISIS & the Middle East
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
17 March 2016 – Speaker
African Americans & Jewish Americans: A Shared History
Address to the Black Student Association
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
26 February 2016 – Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: Parashat Ki Tisa
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
18 February 2016 – Speaker
Public Panel Discussion: The Syrian Refugee Crisis
University of Texas at Tyler
30 January 2016 – Speaker
Ubuntu, Levinas, and Ethics in Africa
Stephen F. Austin State University
15 December 2015 – Speaker
Multicultural Series: Islam with Anwar Khalifa
Austin Heights Baptist Church, Nacogdoches
18 October 2015 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Islam & the Jewish People
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
16 October 2015 – Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: Parashat Noah
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
11 October 2015 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Biblical Marriage
UU Church of Tyler
23 September 2015 – Speaker
Yom Kippur Afternoon Sermon: Totality & Infinity
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
21 September 2015
Art of Peace Festival: Peace Meal
Marvin United Methodist Church
20 September 2015 – Speaker
Film Discussion: One Peace at a Time
Taylor Auditorium, Tyler Public Library
26 July 2015 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Homosexuality & the Bible
UU Church of Tyler
12 July 2015 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Islam & the Jewish People
UU Church of Longview
2 July 2015
Islamic Community Open House
East Texas Islamic Society
31 May 2015 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Islam & the Jewish People
UU Church of Tyler
10 May 2015 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Way of the Dao
UU Church of Longview
22 April 2015 – Speaker
Film Discussion: The Last Temptation of Christ
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
10-11 April 2015
Great Plains Honors Conference
South Padre Island, Texas
22 February 2015 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Christian Faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
UU Church of Tyler
20 February 2015 – Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: Islam & the Jewish People
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
9 December 2014 – Speaker
The Philosophy of Bioethics
Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at Tyler
28 November 2014 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Way of the Dao
UU Church of Tyler
24 November 2014
Holocaust Speaker: Inge Aurbacher
Tyler Junior College, Apache Room
25 October 2014
Islamic Community Open House
East Texas Islamic Society
21 September 2014 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Way of the Buddha
UU Church of Longview
19 September 2014
Honors Coffee Hour: Hegel & the Sublime
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
17 September 2014 – Panelist
Honors Colloquium: Artists, Philosophers, and Scientists
Tyler Junior College, Wise Auditorium
15 September 2014
Art of Peace Festival: Peace Meal
East Texas Food Bank
5 September 2014
Honors Coffee Hour: The Islamic State
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
24 August 2014 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Aristotle & the Happy Life
UU Church of Tyler
26 July 2014
Breaking of the Ramadan Fast
East Texas Islamic Society
29 June 2014 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Confucius and Chinese Philosophy
UU Church of Tyler
6 April 2014 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: Hinduism and the Four Aims of Life
UU Church of Tyler
2 March 2014 – Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
UU Church of Tyler