Keynote Speakers
There will be keynote sessions as well as
smaller paper presentations. At present two keynote speakers are
confirmed:
Professor
Julian Stern
Dean, Faculty of Education & Theology, York St John
University.
Julian came to York St John in August
2008 as Dean of the Faculty of Education & Theology. Born
and brought up in Hull, Julian qualified at the Royal Academy of
Music, Oxford University, Leicester University School of Education,
and the Institute of Education, London. He was a school
teacher in the South of England for fourteen years, and worked in
universities for sixteen years prior to coming to York St John
University. Julian has worked at the Institute of Education,
London, the Open University, Brunel University, and the University
of Hull. Julian is also General Secretary of ISREV, the
International Seminar on Religious
Education and Values
His current research is on the Spirit of the
School, including sub-themes of dialogue (e.g. with music),
community (e.g. on John Macmurray and schools as households), and
learning (e.g. spirited assessment feedback), and on Teaching
Religious Education, including seminars bringing researchers
and teachers together.
Professor
Pauline Kollontai
Pauline Kollontai is the Deputy Dean in the
Faculty of Education and Theology and teaches in the area of
Religious Studies. Before coming to York St John she worked at the
University of Leeds in the School of Adult Education where she
worked on widening participation, particularly with
Muslim communities in West Yorkshire, and was programme
director for a Certificate in Islamic Studies, delivered
predominantly in community venues. Prior to this Pauline
worked at the University of Bradford in the Department of
Peace Studies. Pauline's academic qualifications are in the
disciplines of Peace Studies and Theology and Religious
Studies.
At York St John, Pauline teaches on the
undergraduate and postgraduate programme in the areas of
Judaism, Philosophy of Religion and Religion, Peace and
Conflict. She is Faculty Co-ordinator for the Research
Degree Programmes and Chair of the recently established Centre for
Religion in Society. Pauline has been part of the team organising
the International Conference on Peace and Reconciliation Series.
Two conferences have been held since 2006: the first at York St
John and the second one at the University of California, Los
Angeles. She is leading the team for the third conference
which will take place in November 2010 in Seoul, South
Korea. Her main research interests focus on religion in
social context and religion, peace building and reconciliation.
During the past two years Pauline has been in
Bosnia-Herzegovina looking at the work of religious-based
organisations across the ethnic communities. In 2008 she was a
visiting Professor at Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan and was a
guest lecturer at the Presbyterian College and Theological
Seminary, Seoul, South Korea in 2009.