Parker Blair is a student in the BA/MA dual degree program. Recently, she was a member of the cohort that traveled to France for a Spring Break study abroad. She also serves as a research assistant, helping Dr. Monique Moultrie with her latest research projects. In this interview, we learn more about Parker, her interests, and her experience in the Religious Studies Department.
Please introduce yourself!
My name is Parker Blair. I am a senior in the BA program in Religious Studies and I was accepted into the dual BA/MA program about a year ago. I have a background in chemical engineering and wanted to come back to school mainly because over the years I have fallen deeply in love with the humanities and their interdisciplinary nature. I have so many interests and here I don’t have to minimize any of them. I initially came to GSU for the Africana Studies program, but once I took my first class in Religious Studies, I knew I had to join the department.
What has been your most memorable experience in the religious studies dept at GSU thus far?
My most memorable experience outside of my initial fusion into the department has been the study abroad pilgrimage to France this semester. Since returning, it has been fascinating to think through all the ways everyday aspects of life can be viewed as both pilgrimage and ritual.
What is something useful you’ve learned from your time in the BA program in religious studies thus far?
Overall, I enjoy that everything I have learned via Religious Studies can be applied to all aspects of my life. The approach to studying how other people do religion has further illustrated how beautiful understanding can be, and how we all have beliefs that can impact how we treat one another. I think now, more so than before joining the department, I really try my hardest to bracket my assumptions before approaching anything.
What are your future plans?
Next steps for me are applying towards a doctoral program hopefully in the fall of this year. I recently won an award for my research in Africana Studies where I was examining Black women’s employment of a spiritual pedagogy within social justice spaces and how they use it to create a praxis that leads to social change for marginalized groups. I would love to continue in the direction my current research is going. As of now I am not sure whether I will pursue a program in Religious Studies or Anthropology, but I do know that I want to teach within the academy.
Any advice for prospective students considering a degree in religious studies?
Keep an open mind for sure. Joining the Religious Studies program did not meet my initial expectations and has removed biases unknown to me in the best way possible. Be prepared to not only be engaged in what you study here in the department, but for it to also contribute to personal growth.
Tell us more about yourself- interests, hobbies, etc.
Outside of class I really enjoy traveling, and I am now at a point where I read so much, friends and family try to gift me books they think I haven’t read. I’m also a reiki practitioner, master herbalist, frequent concert and festival goer, and I love to sew. Anything that helps me keep a good balance between being immersed in school and life outside of the academy.