Four questions for Kathy Schnurr, university chaplain

1. What's at the top of your to-do list?

Preparing for what we expect will be another great year. We are making plans to strengthen and grow the opportunities for religious and spiritual life and interfaith engagement as our campus community continues to be increasingly interested in exploring these important experiences. We also focus on finding balance in healthy and fun ways.

Image caption: Kathy Schnurr

Image credit: Marshall Clarke

2. What keeps you up at night?

Thankfully, I don't have much trouble sleeping. But as the chaplain, I carry many people's confidences and, from time to time, I have particularly heightened concerns for individuals. Other than those specific situations, I care very deeply about ensuring our students have safe, meaningful ways to connect and grow spiritually—whether they are religious or not.

3. What's in store 10 years from now?

We work very hard to ensure that we not only learn about one another's traditions and practices but also that we experience the nuances of lived religion. I hope, 10 years from now, our work will engender a more religiously literate campus community, thus better situating our students to serve as leaders in a global context.

4. Tell me something I don't know about Johns Hopkins.

We have a rich and diverse religious life at JHU—there are nearly 25 religiously motivated student groups, representing many of the world's major religious traditions, on our [Homewood] campus.