One of the reasons I chose to study religion (at Trinity) was that it seemed to be the discipline that would allow me the greatest breadth and depth of intellectual pursuit. Absolutely nothing is alien to the study of religion; law, science, the family, politics, mass movements, art, dance, medicine, human sexuality, baseball. If you do study religion you will study the human in all its most intimate and challenging moments.
-- Robert Orsi '75, Ph.D., Yale University, religion professor

Life after Trinity

A degree in Religion from Trinity is excellent preparation for graduate work in one of the many sub-disciplines in the field of religious study. Trinity students have gone on to advanced degrees at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, including Yale, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and the University of Chicago, among others.

At the same time, the academic and intellectual preparation achieved at Trinity opens doors to a range of professional schools, from divinity to social work, law and medical schools. It has also opened the way to challenging and rewarding careers, from business management to the media to public policy positions. The degree in Religion brings the student to an understanding of the human condition and the intellectual flexibility of a first-rate education relevant to many sectors of the society. Faced with the ethical challenges that they encounter daily, many organizations in both the public and private sectors have shown an appreciation for the unique perspective and understanding the Religion major can bring to the table. No matter what the initial goal or ultimate result, the Religion major leaves Trinity with limitless opportunities for success.

Susannah Heschel, a Religion major at Trinity, went on to earn her Ph.D. in Religion (Jewish Studies) at the University of Pennsylvania, becoming one of the first female rabbis and prominent women Jewish theologians. The granddaughter of one of Judaism's foremost theologians, Abraham Heschel, she is now a faculty member in the religion department of Case Western Reserve University.

The following is a selection of the postgraduate scholarly activities and careers of some Religion majors at Trinity:

• Peter Chris Alegi '92, Department of History, Michigan State Univ.
• Howard J. Alfred, M.D. '70, chief of chronic renal disease program, Worcester Memorial Hospital
• William Scott Allyn, M.D. '84, family physician
• The Rev. George E. Andrews II '66, headmaster, Saint Andrew's School
• Charles B. Atwater, Jr. '68, Russian analyst, U.S. Department of Defense
• The Rev. Michael A. Battle '73, university chaplain, Hampton University
• Jennifer Birnbaum '91, student at the Harvard School of Public Health
• Marc S. Blumenthal '78, rabbi at Beth Chayim Chadashim in Los Angeles
• Rachel Brumberg '94, VISTA volunteer
• L. Hamilton Clark, Jr. '72, headmaster, Sewickley Academy
• Dr. Stephen L. Cook '84, assistant professor of Old Testament, Union Theological Seminary
• Jennifer F. DeBernardis '92, General Manager at Frog Design, an industrial design firm in New York
• Judith Ambrose Ewald '80, vice president, Salomon Brothers Asset Management, Inc. in New York
• Stephen K. Gellman, Esq. '85, attorney, Shipman Goodwin in Hartford
  A. Barclay Hansen '84, president, AQUAHEALTH
• The Rev. King Hayes '94, pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford
• Melissa S. Herring '94, student, Vanderbilt Law School
• Kim Aguilar Kennedy '94, assistant unit manager, Community Renewal Team in Hartford
• Tracy Bodine Lee '80, social worker in Windsor, Conn.
• Brian William McGurk '90, student, Yale Divinity School
• William M. Polk '62, headmaster, Groton School
• Elizabeth S. Schwartz '94, youth activities worker, Community Family Life Services in Washington, D.C.
• John L. Simone, Jr. '72, executive director, Hartford Ballet
• Deborah C. Smith '88, staff attorney, Juvenile Rights Project in Portland, Ore.
• Laurie Ann Sullivan '93, student, Harvard Divinity School
• Susan L. Tananbaum '73, assistant professor of history, Bowdoin College
• Dr. George F. Will '62, Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist in Washington, D.C.
• The Rev. Cecily Broderick y Guerra '82, rector, St John's Episcopal Church in Hempstead, N.Y.
• Charles J. Yeager, Esq. '72, attorney in Alexandria, La.
• The Rev. Albert E. Zug '82, curate, St. Alban's Church in Newton Square, Pa.
• Jocelyn McWhirter Zug '82, Princeton Theological Seminary

The study of religion at Trinity allows you to engage in "the process of exploring numerous metaphysical and ethical questions in the context of different cultures and times. The ability to analyze and understand the meanings of these questions, to explore the root of a society, the root of a culture, gives one an important perspective on human experience." -- Carolyn Pelzel '74, associate director of development programs, Harvard University Development Office