We Are Ascending, Because the Moment Demands It
/by Dr. Sherry L. Turner
We are ascending. Like the dove in our emblem, we are called to rise—higher, stronger, and more unified. Not because the path is easy, but because the moment demands it. Hartford International University possesses a unique calling within the graduate, professional, and theological landscape. Our trajectory has always been different.
HIU’s commitment to interfaith engagement, dialogue and peace is not abstract for me—it is deeply personal. I grew up learning its value from my parents, who lived out the conviction expressed by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—that “true peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”
Hartford International University prepares students to lead across religious and cultural boundaries; to offer spiritual care with an eye toward justice, intersectionality and inclusion; to engage the world’s most pressing challenges with courage and compassion; and to pursue peace through education, dialogue, and justice.
There are so many reasons to be proud of Hartford International University.
Our pioneering work in the field of Chaplaincy, and particularly Islamic Chaplaincy.
Our Hartford Institute for Religion Research that leads the nation in understanding how American congregations have changed since the pandemic.
Our International Peace-Building program and the impact our graduates are having in their communities
The century-long legacy of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations
Our Center for Transformative Spirituality with its new focus on eco-spirituality that has positioned us as pioneers at the intersection of faith and the environment.
Our collaboration with Indonesia’s LPDP Endowment Fund, that has allowed us to welcome cohorts of international scholars to our campus for research residencies.
Our Howard Thurman Center for Justice and Transformational Ministry—fueled by a $1 million Lilly Endowment grant—is revitalizing the Black Ministries Program and preparing to celebrate the opening of the future Ambassador Andrew J. Young Building this fall.
A Vision for the Future
As a new president, I am frequently asked to share my vision for Hartford International. I have responded by inviting our community to share their concerns, fears and highest aspirations for HIU and to join me in shaping a meaningful vision together. Through extensive listening across our community, six key priorities have emerged to guide our future:
First, we will expand our student pipeline.
For too long, HIU has been a well-kept secret. Today, we face a stark reality --- that the future of how we educate our students will be shaped by the current higher education economic climate. Graduate theological education is priceless, but it is not cheap! To strengthen that pipeline, we must grow our resources, expand our endowment, and open doors wider through scholarships so that cost is not a hindrance to students who engage in peace-building, healing and interfaith understanding.
Fundraising and friend-raising -- inviting those who share our vision to stand with us, to invest in this mission, and to take part in something that truly matters -- will be central to our vision.
Second, we will invest in people.
We will create excellent and transformative student experiences. We have already begun some much-needed work in upgrading student residences, enhancing and expanding access to shared spaces, and modernizing our technology—because our students deserve environments that inspire both learning and belonging. We will listen more closely through initiatives like our Student Advisory Council, ensuring their voices shape our future.
We will invest in staff and resources that support students’ holistic development – adding new positions in financial aid, technology and development. We will expand career preparation so that every graduate leaves better prepared for what comes next.
We will also ensure that faculty and staff are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in their work. And we will foster lifelong engagement with our alumni, recognizing that their journey with HIU does not end at graduation.
Third, we will innovate our curriculum and expand our programs.
We made bold strides when HIU was renamed and our academic portfolio was reimagined. We will continue to build momentum. Our academic, co-curricular, and spiritual offerings will continue to evolve with visionary leadership and faculty collaboration.
We must ensure that our students are equipped not only with knowledge, but with purpose and employability. We will explore opportunities in entrepreneurship, nonprofit leadership, and practical skill-building. We will explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Fourth, we will strengthen our partnerships.
We know that our mission does not exist in isolation. By deepening relationships with alumni, faith communities, and collaborators near and far, we will extend our reach and amplify our impact—locally and globally.
We celebrate our partnership with Indonesia, we will be exploring a new MOU between HIU and the Religious Affairs Ministry. This partnership will focus on new programs: dual degrees, master’s, and doctoral studies. Additionally, we are exploring new partnerships in Pakistan, India and Canada and look forward to fruitful collaborations there.
Fifth, we will define our place among our peers.
Today, we stand at a defining moment—one that calls us not only to reflect on who we have been, but to declare, with clarity and conviction, who we will become. With a new identity, we have many questions to explore, including critical ones such as what does it mean for us to be a university rather than a seminary? In defining our place, it is critical that HIU is a sacred, safe and trusted space for people to understand the complexities, nuances, particularities of various perspectives particularly, as we move through the messiness of this current historical moment.
Sixth, we will improve our processes.
Strong systems are the foundation of a thriving institution. We will build operations that are efficient, transparent, and aligned with our mission — ensuring that every aspect of our work supports teaching, learning, and community life. These are not abstract goals. They are our commitments—to stability, to growth, and to lasting impact. And together, we will bring them to life.
Conclusion
As we move forward together, I am grateful—for your partnership, your trust, and your shared commitment to this mission. In a world hungry for understanding, justice, and reconciliation, our work matters more than ever.
And so I invite you: Ascend with HIU. Soar with us as we pursue an upward trajectory. Ascend with us as we reach higher standards, higher purpose and higher ground. We are ascending. And where, might you ask, are we going?
As far as our dreams, visions, imaginings and wings can take us!
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Dr. Sherry L. Turner is President of Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. These remarks, slightly abridged here, were delivered on April 26, 2026 on the occasion of her inauguration as President. Hartford International University, previously known as the Hartford Seminary, is located in Hartford’s West End. President Turner is the third woman and the first African American to lead the 191-year-old institution. (See more here; photo of President Turner by Cloe Poisson.)
Dr. Turner has extensive experience in higher education, including as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and as the Executive Director and CEO of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Consortium, where she led joint strategic initiatives for Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse School of Medicine.
