Announcing Dr. David Krueger as Dialogue Institute Executive Director

I first met Dialogue Institute founder Len Swidler serving as his teaching assistant for his world religions class when I was a graduate student at Temple University. It was perhaps the first time in my life that I had a sustained encounter with texts and ideas outside of my own Christian tradition. I had grown up in a part of Minnesota where most people I knew were Protestant and of Scandinavian descent. I would later go on to serve in church leadership among the United Methodists, attend a Presbyterian seminary, and teach for a time at a small Catholic College. By the standards of my rural upbringing, I was already quite “worldly,” by the time I arrived at Temple, but I’m grateful that Len’s classes served as a springboard for my future interreligious work with the Dialogue Institute. 

It was not long after I graduated with a PhD in religious U.S. religious history, that I found a new outlet for my teaching beyond the college classroom. Rebecca Mays brought me in to serve as a lecturer and tour guide for the Dialogue Institute’s Study of the U.S. Institute Programs on Religious Pluralism. I began to work with students, but I increased my participation in 2017 working with the new scholar program. The objectives of these programs fit perfectly with my teaching and scholarly passions: advancing an understanding of the U.S. religious landscape, enhancing appreciation for diversity societies, teaching the skills of interreligious dialogue, and increasing comprehension of democratic principles and religious freedom in the U.S. I feel privileged to have met hundreds of new friends and colleagues who share a commitment to make their own societies more welcoming of religious minorities and seek to build bridges of collaboration across differences with the tools of dialogue.  

In the past year, the Dialogue Institute - Journal of Ecumenical Studies has clarified its central priorities in our case statement. We continue to strengthen our global network through our SUSI Student program and we aim to apply for the next SUSI Scholar opportunity. We have also developed new dialogue programs in collaboration with partners such as Graduate Theological Union - Berkeley, Citizen Diplomacy International, the American Jewish Committee, and Montgomery Community College. Although the launch of our religious pluralism tours program was delayed due to Covid-19, we are now pivoting to offering digital tours. We are also thrilled with the editorial leadership of Terry Rey Journal of Ecumenical Studies, who is helping us to engage with new academic audiences. 

As we transition into a new Dialogue Institute, we ask for your financial support. Our founder Len Swidler has generously offered to match dollar for dollar all donation through the end of 2020. Time is running out so we ask that you make your contribution today to ensure that we can continue to make a difference in the U.S. and around the globe. 

Lastly, I wish to extend appreciation to my predecessor Sergio Mazza, who ably led our team over the past two years and gave generously of his time (along with his wife Lora) to support our cohorts of SUSI students and scholars. I hope to make it to Sedona, Arizona one day!