Tirzah's Discovery

During her time as a religious studies major, Tirzah Chesky embarked upon a research project that started with an assignment for Tim Miller's REL 171 Religion and American Society course and ended up with a conference presentation at the 2016 international American Academy of Religion's Annual Meeting.  The research and presentation process helped Tirzah discover a passion for the field of religious studies, as well as provided her with an opportunity to broaden her educational experience.  As she shares:

"Thanks to the support of the Religious Studies Department, I was able to do something I had never dreamed possible as an undergrad. I presented a paper on Scientology at the American Academy of Religion's Annual Meeting in San Antonio. Thanks to Dr. Miller’s continued encouragement, I was able to develop my 5-page paper into a 20-minute presentation and submit it to this conference. I never thought it would be accepted, but when it was, the department immediately offered to help fund my trip. With this offer, they gave me not only an invaluable experience education-wise, but one that also reaffirmed my love of the field of religious studies.I came here to study biochemestry and found not only my true passion, but a collection of people willing to support and nurture that."

Before graduation, Tirzah was hired full-time as a development assistant at KU Endowment.  She currently works there while contributing to her religious studies' YouTube channel, Ground Up Religion.

Tirzah Chesky:

BA, major in religious studies and minor in journalism, 2018 University of Kansas