Ann's Journey

Ann, a KU Religious Studies alum, is now a tour coordinator for an independent concert promoter, organizing shows across the country for audiences of up to 25,000 people.

What made you choose Religious Studies at KU?

"I bounced around majors for a couple of semesters and signed up for Asian Religions to fulfill a KU Core requirement and just ended up being really into it. It was the first time I felt like my college classes were expanding my worldview."

Were there any courses, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you? 

"Paul Zimdars-Swartz had a huge impact on my college experience and transition into the workforce. He taught Mysticism and Religious Perspectives of Selfhood and Sexualilty and I did my independent study with him in 2020. It was about the quasi-religious nature of music in counterculture movements."

What advice would you give to current or prospective Religious Studies students?

"Relate what you are learning in class to what you are seeing in real life. You know that someone believes one thing, but how does that belief manifest in their real life?

Look for those connections constantly and be willing to learn, unlearn, and teach others about them. Participate in interfaith dialogue often."

Ann Carlson:

BGS, Religious Studies, University of Kansas, 2021