Another Plan “A”: Religious Studies and Careers Beyond the Academy

Worried about the job market? Thinking that a career in higher ed no longer matches your interests and goals? Or just wondering about options? The American Academy of Religion's Applied Religious Studies Committee hosts a discussion on career paths outside the academy. Panelists discuss fields including: publishing and editing, freelance writing, nonprofits and foundations, government, religious communities, academic administration, and more; and current PhD candidates talk about their own experiences of exploring nonacademic career options in the context of their graduate studies. Panelists also explore the ways faculty, departments, and the AAR might better support scholars as they consider careers beyond the academy. Cristine Hutchison-Jones, Administrative Director, Petrie-Flom Center of Harvard Law School, presiding Panelists: - Jason Blakeburn, PhD candidate, McGill University - Regina Walton, Pastor and Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Newton (MA)and Counselor to Episcopal/Anglican Students Harvard University - Emily Mace, Chicago Digital Humanities Coordinator, Lake Forest College - Robert P. Jones, CEO, Public Religion Research Institute This roundtable and Q&A was held at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 18.