News

Faith as a Bridge: Hendricks Chapel attends Interfaith America Leadership Summit 


By Dara Harper 

A dedicated group of chaplains, students and staff from Hendricks Chapel attended the Interfaith America Leadership Summit in Chicago from Aug. 8-10, 2025. The multifaith cohort from Syracuse University joined more than 700 participants to bridge divides and forge friendships across lines of religious and spiritual differences. Through the theme of “The Chords of Democracy,” the summit was the largest gathering of interfaith leaders in the world for 2025.  

From the left, back row: Ronit Hizgiaev ’28, Omar Mohammed ’27, Imam Amir Durić, Assistant Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life at Hendricks Chapel; Rabbi Dr. Natan Levy, Campus Rabbi at Syracuse Hillel and Jewish Chaplain at Hendricks Chapel; Aubrie Methven ’26. Front row: Dara Harper, Communications Manager at Hendricks Chapel; Kaleya Scott, Engagement Coordinator at Hendricks Chapel. Not pictured: Sofiya Ivanova ’27. 

Interfaith America, which was founded as Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) in 2002, is “based on the idea that religious difference should serve as a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division.” Through a research-backed approach, Interfaith America works on college campuses, in the corporate field, and across civic spaces. The founder and president of Interfaith America, Eboo Patel, visited Syracuse University in February of 2025, where he met with campus leaders and participated in a public conversation in Hendricks Chapel with Dean Brian Konkol.  

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Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering: An Invitation to Celebrate on Sacred Land

Diane Schenandoah ’11, Honwadiyenawa’sek (“One who helps them”), will host a Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle on Monday, Aug. 25, from 4 to 5 p.m.

The Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering is an event held on campus to welcome all incoming and returning students, faculty and staff for the 2025-26 academic year, and for all to show respect for the Indigenous people on whose ancestral lands Syracuse University now stands. Schenandoah is a citizen of the Oneida Nation and a Wolf Clan Faithkeeper, as well as staff member in the Barnes Center. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is comprised of Six Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora.

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Photo Story: Chaplain and Staff Retreat 2025

That’s a wrap for the Hendricks Chapel staff and chaplain retreat! Thanks so much to all who attended and shared wise words and kindness. We’re ready to welcome all the Syracuse University students to campus starting this coming week!

Our team sought to reflect, renew, and grow together as we chart a shared course for the academic year and beyond. This year we offered special attention to our 2026-2030 strategic plan, which leads to the 100th anniversary of Hendricks Chapel in 2030!

Imam Hamza Gürsoy appointed as Muslim Chaplain at Hendricks Chapel

The University has appointed Imam Hamza Gürsoy as Muslim chaplain and advisor for the Muslim Student Association at Hendricks Chapel. In his role, Gürsoy will serve students by expanding the impact of Hendricks Chapel as “a home for all faiths and place for all people.”

Imam Hamza Gürsoy

“We at Hendricks Chapel are overjoyed to welcome Imam Hamza Gürsoy to the Syracuse University campus community,” says the Rev. Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. “As a dynamic Islamic leader with meaningful interfaith experience, Chaplain Gürsoy will help to prepare our students for a changing global society. I am excited to witness all the ways he will support our Muslim students and many others, to inspire all to lead in service to our common good.”

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Imam Amir Durić Appointed Assistant Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life at Hendricks Chapel

By Dara Harper

The University has appointed Imam Amir Durić as assistant dean for religious and spiritual life at Hendricks Chapel. Durić, who has served as Muslim chaplain at Hendricks Chapel since 2017, will provide visionary, inclusive and compassionate leadership to advance interfaith engagement, spiritual wellness and ethical development throughout the University community.  

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Spelman College Glee Club to perform at Hendricks Chapel

As the grand finale of the 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest, the Spelman College Glee Club of Atlanta will perform at Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University on Sunday, June 29, 2025. The Spelman College Glee Club, now in its historic 100th year, is the oldest collegiate choir of African American women in the United States. Directed by Dr. Kevin P. Johnson since 1999, the Glee Club has achieved national and international acclaim, performing at the White House, Carnegie Hall, the Vatican, and across Europe. With the motto ‘to amaze and inspire,’ the Spelman College Glee Club uplifts audiences with artistry rooted in tradition and shaped by innovation.

“Return to Community: A Sunday Gospel Jazz Service” will feature performances by The Spelman College Glee Club, The Black Celestial Choral Ensemble (BCCE) of Syracuse University, and a community choir comprised of Syracuse-area residents.

Following highly successful events in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest finale at Hendricks Chapel will once again offer a dynamic and inclusive spiritual experience that fuses and celebrates Gospel and Jazz, includes a pre-event welcome luncheon, and seeks to spark and sustain renewal in our local community and beyond. The 3:00 P.M. program and 12:30 P.M. luncheon are both free of charge and open to the first 1,000 attendees.

“Return to Community: A Sunday Gospel Jazz Service”
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Program: 3:00 P.M.
Pre-Event Luncheon: 12:30-2:30 P.M.
Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University
There is no fee to attend the program or lunch. All are welcome.
Attendance capacity: 1,000 with overflow seating available outdoors

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Building Bridges: A Multifaith Journey at Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University

By Dara Harper

(This story was originally published on the Interfaith America website.)

When Rev. Devon Bartholomew first toured Syracuse University as a prospective undergraduate student, he glanced at Hendricks Chapel and said aloud, “That building has nothing to offer me.”  

Today, he serves as Hendricks Chapel’s Non-Denominational Christian chaplain. What he once discounted has become a space of deep community, spiritual growth, and even surprising connections, like his long-time friendship with Sensei JoAnn Cooke, the Buddhist chaplain at Hendricks Chapel. 

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How Hendricks Chapel Became My Home Away from Home

By Asil Bascal ’25

When I first started school at Syracuse University, I remember wandering around campus alone, just after my dad dropped me off. I stared down at my phone following Google Maps as I nervously made my way to Hendricks Chapel, searching for the pre-welcome event for Muslim students. That week I met some of my closest friends, and after only a short time, I felt like maybe college wouldn’t be so intimidating after all. 

Asil and her current communications colleagues,
Michela Wallach ’27 and Lucy Gonzalez ’27.
Asil poses with her original communications colleagues,
Fe Kligerman ’26 and Micah Greenberg ’26.

Over time, I became more involved with the Muslim Students Association (MSA), eventually joining the executive board (e-board) as social media strategist. What began as a side commitment quickly became a defining part of my college experience, and I remained on e-board for the next three years. One afternoon, after spending time in the Muslim prayer room, I wandered over to People’s Place Café, which is also located on the lower level of Hendricks Chapel, and loved it so much that I decided to apply for a job. That little café became a cornerstone of my routine and a space where I queued up playlists and shared laughs with friends. 

Through my work with MSA and my constant presence in Hendricks, I met Dara Harper, whose warm energy and encouragement introduced me to the Communications Associate role. That opportunity helped me grow professionally and uncover talents I may never have explored as a pre-med biotechnology student. 

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Donor helps Hendricks Chapel support Syracuse University’s Student Veterans

by Dara Harper 

Behind some of Hendricks Chapel’s most impactful student veteran support programs lies a generous donor. As a Syracuse University alumna and parent of a U.S. military veteran, the donor – who asked to remain anonymous for this story – became keenly aware of the challenges facing military service members, particularly those who attend university after military service. This personal family connection has led the donor to spark and sustain support for various initiatives through Hendricks Chapel in partnership with the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) and The David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. These programs include the Student Veteran Support Fund, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Resiliency Program and the Moral Injury Project. 

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