The University Chaplaincy is a dynamic hub supporting religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life for all members of the Tufts community. The entire Chaplaincy is enthused to serve the diverse religious community at Tufts and desire to fulfill its commitment to you. To that end, our chaplains and staff cooperate to provide whatever our students may need on their unique journeys. Our primary mission is to:
University Chaplaincy serves the entire Tufts community, including faculty and staff on all three campuses. Faculty and staff are welcome at all of our regular weekly gatherings. The ones below are especially for faculty and staff. If you have any questions please reach out to the chaplain listed or chaplaincy@tufts.edu.
Each of our chaplains and full-time staff people serve as liaisons to different offices. You can reach out directly to them if you have a question, would like to plan a gathering, are seeking support, or have a general inquiry about collaboration.
Name and Title | Liaison To | |
---|---|---|
Elyse Nelson Winger, University Chaplain
|
Office of Equal Opportunity
Office of Residential Life and Learning Religion Department Student Life Tisch College of Civic Life Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice |
Elyse.Nelson_Winger@tufts.edu |
Lynn Cooper, Associate Director and Catholic Chaplain
|
Athletics
Counseling and Mental Health Services Office of Residential Life and Learning Women’s Center |
Lynn.Cooper@tufts.edu |
Najiba Akbar, Muslim Chaplain
|
Health Sciences Campus—Wellness Office
International Center |
Najiba.Akbar@tufts.edu |
Dan Bell, Protestant Chaplain
|
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Health Sciences Campus—Wellness Office LGBT Center |
Daniel.Bell@tufts.edu |
Preeta Banerjee, Hindu Chaplain
|
Asian American Center
Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy Indigenous Center |
Preeta.Banerjee@tufts.edu |
Nora Bond, Program Manager
|
AS&E Advising Deans
Office of Campus Life |
Nora.Bond@tufts.edu |
Naftali Brawer, Jewish Chaplain and Executive Director of Hillel, Tufts
|
Dining Services | Naftali.Brawer@tufts.edu |
Anthony Cruz Pantojas, Humanist Chaplain
|
Africana Center
Latinx Center FIRST Center Tisch Library |
Anthony.Cruz_Pantojas@tufts.edu |
Ji Hyang Padma, Buddhist Chaplain
|
SMFA—Student Affairs | Jihyang.Padma@tufts.edu |
The Breakfast Club: Faculty-Staff Bible Study and Prayer Group
Wednesdays, 8 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. ET
You are warmly invited to “The Breakfast Club,” a contemplative Bible study group for faculty and staff led by Tufts’ Protestant Chaplain, the Reverend Dan Bell. We gather every Wednesday morning over Zoom to check in, reflect on Scripture, and pray together. All Tufts faculty and staff are welcome to participate, regardless of faith background. Various Christian traditions are represented. Please feel free to have your breakfast as we meet, and step away when you need to. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please email Protestant Chaplain Dan Bell.
Faculty-Staff Color Insight Mindfulness Group
Coming January 2024
The Buddhist Chaplaincy will host a bimonthly Faculty-Staff Mindfulness group centered on the ColorInsight model of Rhonda Magee– a mindfulness practice circle engaged in creating the beloved community we seek to embody here at Tufts. In this group, which is exclusively for faculty and staff, we will use mindfulness and related exercises to develop our personal capacity to deal more effectively with race and to strengthen our capacity for effective collaborative social change. We will draw from the work of Rhonda Magee, Ruth King and other transformational leaders. Prior experience with mindfulness is welcome, but not required. Please connect with Buddhist Chaplain Ji Hyang Padma for more information.
Spiritual Care
Spiritual care is a type of counseling provided by professional chaplains and trained spiritual leaders. It involves nonjudgmental, compassionate listening that welcomes people to share their joys, concerns, and hopes in the context of their full humanity, and for many, their philosophy, religion, or spirituality. At Tufts, chaplains are confidential resources for faculty and staff. Chaplains are trained to support anyone in the fullness of their religious and philosophical identities, and are LGBTQIA affirming. You can find out more about spiritual care at Tufts here. Use the button below to submit a brief form if you want a chaplain to reach out to you.
Multifaith Gathering for Peace hosted by the University Chaplaincy
Wednesdays starting September 20, 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m., Goddard Chapel
Please join the University Chaplaincy in our weekly Multifaith Gathering for Peace. All members of the Tufts community—students, staff and faculty—are welcome to join members of the University Chaplaincy team for a weekly 30-minute multifaith gathering for peace. Our time together will include silence, candle lighting, music, reflections, and meditations from our different traditions. We look forward to sharing this space together as we navigate ongoing national and global crises and lift-up our individual and shared hopes for peace in ourselves, others and our world. Please contact the University Chaplaincy if you have any questions or concerns.
Monday Mindfulness with the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha hosted by the Buddhist Chaplaincy
Mondays 12:00 p.m. - 1: 00 p.m. at the Interfaith Center
Weekly Meditation hosted by the Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha. Through meditation we develop clarity, concentration, compassion and resiliency. All are welcome. Please connect with Buddhist Chaplain Ji Hyang Padma for more information
Weekly Meditation and Buddhist Studies with the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha hosted by the Buddhist Chaplaincy
Wednesdays 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Goddard Chapel
Weekly Meditation and Buddhist Studies on a range of topics. Please connect with Buddhist Chaplain Ji Hyang Padma for more information.
Dharma Dialogue with the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha hosted by the Buddhist Chaplaincy
Fridays 12:00 p.m. - 1: 30 p.m. at Goddard Chapel
Dharma Dialogue: Meditation followed by dialogue centered upon a Dharma text, led by the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha. Meditation will generally take place 12- 12:30 PM, with dialogue running from 12:30- 1:30 PM. All are welcome. Please connect with Buddhist Chaplain Ji Hyang Padma for more information.
Roman Catholic Mass hosted by the Catholic Chaplaincy
Sundays 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., at Goddard Chapel
All are welcome and as always, come as you are. Confession before or after mass. Contact Catholic Chaplain Lynn Cooper if you are interested or have any questions.
Undergraduate, graduate, faculty, staff and alumni are welcome in person and remotely. Our discussions of the book "Pathways to Joy" will explore the fullness of yoga (beyond the asana practice found in most Western Yoga studios) where the root “yog” means to align/to unite. Please email Hindu Chaplain Preeta Banerjee to receive access to the book.
Jummah Prayers hosted by the Muslim Chaplaincy
Fridays, 1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Interfaith Center
Jummah Prayers Fridays, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Interfaith Center Please join us for the Friday Prayer Service, open to all. The sermon begins at 1:15 followed by the prayer. Please reach out to Muslim Chaplain Najiba Akbar with any questions. Please reach out to Muslim Chaplain Najiba Akbar with any questions.
Protestant Evening Worship (P.E.W.) hosted by the Protestant Chaplaincy
Sundays, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Goddard Chapel
Chaplain Dan, a variety of guest preachers from different denominations, and students offer weekly messages to inspire and challenge one’s faith. We celebrate Communion once a month; all are welcome to receive. We also have "Dinner Church" programs on occasion and other special services throughout the year. After each service, we we invite you to stay for snacks and community time. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please email Protestant Chaplain Dan Bell.