Jon Hinkson and Anita Hinkson are the Directors of the Rivendell Student Fellows program; Karen Mahan and Sue Smedley are the Directors of Spiritual Formation. Soozie Schneider is the Director of the Yale Faculty Roundtable. David Mahan, Tanya Walker, Donald Smedley, and John Hartley are Senior Fellows of the Institute.
For more information about our directors, fellows, administrative staff, and Board of Directors, visit www.rivendellinstitute.org/about/#team.
Our mission to explore the contribution of an historic Christian vision of life to the academy, human flourishing, and the common good brings into focus two vital considerations. How does Christian faith speak to the ideas, issues, and concerns of contemporary society as these are formulated in our colleges and universities? How can our academic institutions become places where voices of faith contribute as conversation partners in the formation of a new generation of scholars and leaders? The Rivendell Institute was created to take up these and other questions as servants to and within Yale University.
Our lovely building at 291 Edwards St. is the physical center for our Institute.
Spiritual Formation Fellowship- The Spiritual Formation program is a fellowship for graduate and professional students and postdocs that meets weekly to address the unique spiritual challenges in academia. A biblical view of integrating academic pursuits, personal lives, and faith is explored through scripture study, faculty lectures, retreats and personal mentoring. Meetings are on Fridays from 7:00-9:00pm at the Rivendell Institute. For more information about the program and curriculum and to view the full program schedule, visit www.rivendellinstitute.org/spiritual-formation.
Student Fellows Program - The Student Fellows program is a selective, intensive formation experience designed to cultivate Christian disciples in their callings as image bearers and witness bearers. The program runs the length of one academic year and consists of biweekly seminars, retreats, and mentoring. As part of the program, Fellows will develop a short integration project or paper. Occasional dinner colloquia provide Fellows an opportunity to engage with seasoned disciples who exemplify image bearing and witness bearing within their spheres of influence. The application window for the Student Fellows Program is open from May to July each year.
For more information and to view this year’s schedule, visit www.rivendellinstitute.org/student-fellows.
Colloquia and Retreats – These events explore what it means to integrate one’s faith with careers and other roles, and offer practical ways to draw closer to God in the midst of the many pressures we face in our academic and professional lives. Dates are posted on our website during the academic calendar. For questions about Colloquia and Retreats, please contact info@rivendellinstitute.org.
Home Scripture Study – A biweekly opportunity to participate in thoughtful, practical discussion of the Scriptures in the comfortable home setting of a Yale professor. Each year features close study of one book of the Bible. Faculty, graduate students, spouses, and friends are welcome. For more info contact david.mahan@yale.edu.