WILLA CORNELIA SWENSON-LENGYEL
6231 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Apartment 3
Chicago, IL 60637
(507) 403-9899
wlengyel@uchicago.edu
EDUCATION
2016
Ph.D. Candidate, Religious Ethics, The University of Chicago Divinity School,
expected June
Dissertation: “Scientific Prediction and Theological Hope: Human Hope in Response
to the Environmental Crisis”
Committee: William Schweiker (chair), Kevin Hector, Lisa Sideris
2010
M.A.R. Religious Ethics, summa cum laude, Yale Divinity School
Adviser: Gene Outka
2008
B.A. Religion and Music, magna cum laude and with distinction, St. Olaf
College
B.A. Thesis: “Reinhold Niebuhr and Terrorism”
Adviser: Edmund Santurri
PUBLICATIONS
Under Review
“Beyond Moltmann: Environmental Pessimism and the Future of Human Hoping” in
The Journal of Religious Ethics
Book Reviews
2016
Forthcoming “Review of Blessed are the Consumers, by Sallie McFague” in The Journal of
Religion, Spring
Graduate Student Peer Reviewed
2010
“Nature as Neighbor: Whether and how to love the created order” Glossolalia - Volume
2, Number 2, Spring
2010
“A Christian Cosmos: A methodology for the interaction between religion and
science” Glossolalia - Volume 2, Number 2, Spring
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2015
Midwest Regional AAR Graduate Student Research Prize for paper given, entitled
“Dum Spiro Spero: Hope and the moral life”
2015-2016
Martin Marty Center Dissertation Fellowship
2010-2015
University of Chicago Fellowship
2010
Yale Divinity School, Dwight-Hooker Fellowship for Theological Study
2009-2010
Yale Divinity School, Henry W. Allis Scholarship
2008
St. Olaf College Religion Department, Junia Award
2008
St. Olaf College, induction into Phi Beta Kappa
CONFERENCE ACTIVITY AND PARTICIPATION
Presenter
2016
“Scientific Predictions and the Future of Hope,” Religion, Science, and the Future,
annual meeting of International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture
Jan. 14-17
2016
“Facing the Future Anew: The Human Being as Hoper," Society of Christian Ethics,
January 7-10
2015
“Dum Spiro Spero: Hope and the moral life,” Midwest American Academy of Religion,
April 10-11
2012
“Thinking Theologically about Extinction,” American Academy of Religion, Nov. 1520
2012
“Augustine, Schleiermacher, and the Question of Non-Christian Virtue,” Democratic
Piety? Theology and Ethics in a Post Secular Age, University of Virginia Graduate
Colloquium, April 13-14
Respondent
2014
Respondent to John Hare, “Divine Command: Religion and Morality,” God:
Theological Accounts and Ethical Possibilities Conference, University of Chicago,
April 9-11
CAMPUS TALKS
2012
“Finitude, Extinction, and Christian Ecological Ethics,” Religious Ethics Workshop,
University of Chicago, November 9
INVITED TALKS
2011
"Existence and Extinction: Ecology, Ethics, and Theology on Individual and
Communal Mortality,” Zygon Center for Science and Religion, in conjunction with the
Theology workshop, November 14
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2012-Today Research Assistant to William Schweiker, University of Chicago
Function as editor of and academic interlocuter for his work.
2009
Research Assistant to Timothy Jackson, Emory University
Collaborated on a course “Religion, Science, and Morality,” that was taught in the Fall
at the Candler School of Theology.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Elmhurst College
2014
Philosophy Department
Environmental Ethics, Instructor of Record (Fall)
University of Chicago
2016
Undergraduate Religious Studies Department
Moral Agency and Social Transformation, Instructor of Record (Winter)
2015-2016
Undergraduate Environmental Studies Department
BA Preceptor, Instructor of Record (Yearlong)
In this position, I advise students on their environmental studies undergraduate theses.
2015
Bachelor of the Arts Thesis Colloquium, Instructor of Record (Fall)
2013
Divinity School, Graduate
Introduction to the Study of Religion, Teaching Assistant to Richard Rosengarten
(Fall)
2013
History of Theological Ethics II, Teaching Assistant to William Schweiker (Winter)
2012
History of Theological Ethics I, Teaching Assistant to William Schweiker (Spring)
2011
Introduction to Theology, Teaching Assistant to Kevin Hector (Fall)
PEDAGOGICAL TRAINING
2015
Divinity School Craft of Teaching Syllabus Workshop, February 27
2014
Divinity School Craft of Teaching Microteaching Workshop
An intensive half-day training in lecturing in large classes.
2014
University of Chicago Writing Program’s Pedagogies of Writing Training
Quarter long course on teaching writing in humanities courses to undergraduate
students.
2013-2015
Chicago Center for Teaching Seminars and Workshops
On Course Design, Assignment Design, and Teaching Philosophy
2013
Chicago Center for Teaching Workshop on Teaching in the College, September 25-26
A two-day pedagogical training for teaching undergraduate students.
SERVICE TO UNIVERSITY
2014
Student representative, Search Committee for Environmental Ethics hire, University of
Chicago
2013-2014
Coordinator, Council of Advance Studies Religion and Ethics Workshop, University of
Chicago Divinity School
2012-2013
Board member, Women’s Caucus, University of Chicago Divinity School
2010
Student representative, Search Committee for Christian Ethics hire, Yale Divinity
School
SERVICE TO PROFESSION
2009-2010
Editor and Coordinator, Glossolalia: A Journal of Many Tongues, Yale University
TEACHING COMPETENCIES
Theological and Religious Ethics
Philosophical Ethics
Medieval History
Philosophical Environmental Ethics
Environmental Theology and Environmental Religious Ethics
Systematic Theology
Reformation and Modern Protestant Theology
Religion and Science
Humanities Core
History of Thought
Introduction to Religious Studies
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Society of Christian Ethics
American Academy of Religion
LANGUAGES
French, reading
German, reading