Shola Adegbite puts focus on students as she joins staff of Spiritual and Religious Life

Shola Adegbite has joined Lawrence University as its new assistant dean of Spiritual and Religious Life.

She will support the work of the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life, led by Terra Winston-Sage, the Julie Esch Hurvis Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life and chaplain to the university. Her efforts will be focused on students, including coordination and mentorship of spiritual-based student organizations and religious holiday observances. She will facilitate conversations with students and student organizations about spirituality, faith development, religious diversity, community building, interfaith concerns, and social justice commitments.

“I hope to play my part in creating an environment where we can all thrive and be whole,” Shola said.

She served as a campus minister at Union Theological Seminary in New York for three years and she worked and trained as a chaplain for one year at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She spent the past year and a half at the Interfaith Center of New York, where she most recently served as religious diversity project assistant director.

Shola said she was drawn to Lawrence because of how intentional it is in serving students.

“First, it is student-centered and there is a lot about collaboration and teamwork, which I really like,” she said.

“As I researched the institution during the application stages, I was drawn to how the website promoted the accomplishments of its people, especially faculty and students,” Shola added. “I also was impressed by all the facilities readily available to use. Then when I met people during interviews and afterwards, people were really nice and personable. Since beginning here, all these things I noticed continue to be true.”

Shola is completing a Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary with a dissertation focused on conflict resolution strategies in Paul’s letter to the Romans. She has master’s degrees from the University of Edinburgh in the UK and Union Theological Seminary, and bachelor’s degrees from Olabisi Onabanjo University and Obafemi Awolowo University, both in Nigeria.