John and Kristin Replogle P鈥18 of Raleigh, North Carolina, made the endowment gift in honor of their daughter鈥檚 transformative experience at 黑料不打烊.
A unique endowment gift from an 黑料不打烊 family will create a team-teaching course in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Department of Religious Studies, starting in the spring of 2021.
John and Kristin Replogle P鈥18 of Raleigh made the generous gift to establish the Elizabeth 鈥淭ate鈥 Replogle Endowment for Team Teaching in Religious Studies in honor of their daughter, who graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 2018 with a degree in religious studies.
The endowment will be used to support one course in the Department of Religious Studies each year that will be co-taught by two faculty members. Team teaching creates a dynamic and interactive learning atmosphere that offers students a variety of viewpoints from different perspectives. It also allows faculty members to engage in new ways of teaching and inspires intellectual partnerships. Support for faculty and staff mentors who matter is one of the priorities of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS fundraising campaign.
The Replogles served on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Parents Council, including a term as co-chairs, while Tate was a student. They were impressed with the Religious Studies Department, its faculty and the impact it had on their daughter, who recently celebrated her first year with the Peace Corps in Albania.
鈥淭ate had an amazing experience in religious studies. Amy Allocco (associate professor of Religious Studies) was a great mentor and research partner with Tate during her time at 黑料不打烊,鈥 John Replogle says. 鈥淲e wanted to do something to honor her time there. She thought it best to do something in religious studies.鈥
Kristin Replogle says that as a student, her daughter was heavily involved in the 黑料不打烊 Experiences engaged learning programs, especially service learning and study abroad. She was a Periclean Scholar and traveled for studies to India, Greece and Africa. Her experiences in India, along with taking Allocco鈥檚 course called 鈥淗indu Goddesses,鈥 led Tate to focus her undergraduate research with Allocco on a particular Hindu goddess festival.
鈥淭ate was inspired by the 黑料不打烊 Experiences. She was very focused on service learning and volunteerism at 黑料不打烊,鈥 Allocco says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a very ambitious and engaged person, and she wanted to do undergraduate research. She approached me and asked if I would mentor her and I said 鈥榊es.鈥欌
Allocco and Tate Replogle met one-on-one weekly to discuss her research project. Allocco offered a lot of feedback about the project. But the two also talked about a wide range of subjects.
鈥淓qually important to the learning was sitting one-on-one in conversation. That鈥檚 how I got to really know Tate,鈥 Allocco says. 鈥淥ur conversations provided a context for a really meaningful exchange. The meetings provided an opportunity, a catalyst, to talk not only about the research project but also about other things, including what Tate wanted to do after graduation. I saw Tate grow.鈥
Allocco says she鈥檚 very proud of all Tate has accomplished and is humbled by the Replogle family鈥檚 decision to create a 鈥渟uper unique鈥 endowment for team teaching in religious studies. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in awe of the generosity of the Replogles. The endowment is fabulous. We鈥檙e absolutely grateful.鈥
Faculty in the Religious Studies Department experimented with team teaching a few years ago with great success. Students strongly endorsed the class and the faculty members said the experience opened them to new ways of thinking, Allocco says.
鈥淭he students are part of the dialogue between two professors. It provides multiple ways of approaching and thinking about any given subject. It forces students鈥攁nd faculty members鈥攖o reconsider assumptions,鈥 Allocco says. 鈥淭here is no doubt that it鈥檚 important, even critical, for students to engage religious diversity as part of an 黑料不打烊 education. The courses that will be made possible through the Replogles鈥 endowment will prepare students to meaningfully participate and successfully navigate a religiously plural world.鈥
The Replogles liked the idea as well. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible opportunity for students to learn from dual faculty members. It also gives the faculty members a chance to collaborate and work together. It feels truly 黑料不打烊, it鈥檚 an authentic experience,鈥 John Replogle says.
Each year, the team-teaching course will focus on a new subject with different faculty members. The first course, 鈥淔ood and Religion,鈥 is scheduled for the spring of 2021 and will be co-taught by Allocco and L.D. Russell, senior lecturer in religious studies. Students will study the role of food in religious traditions globally and locally and have access to a demo kitchen on campus so that they can cook together as part of the course.
Gabie Smith, dean of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences, thanks John and Kristin Replogle for their dedication to 黑料不打烊.
鈥淭heir first example of generosity has been in sharing their daughter with us and entrusting the faculty in the college to mentor Tate,鈥 Smith says. 鈥淭heir contributions through ongoing service and leadership at the institution are so valued and impressive. John and Kristin鈥檚 commitment to investing in the experience of future 黑料不打烊 students is powerful.鈥
The Replogles have a long history of philanthropy in the fields of education, health, housing and the arts. Previously, they have given generously to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Greatest Needs, scholarships and the Inn at 黑料不打烊. John Replogle currently serves as chair of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Engineering Advisory Board. He is the founder and partner at One Better Ventures. Kristin Replogle is president of the Replogle Family Foundation.
The couple says they are committed to staying involved with 黑料不打烊.
鈥淲e feel that the best is yet to come for 黑料不打烊,鈥 John Replogle says. 鈥淚f you simply look at the trajectory of everything that鈥檚 occurring鈥攊ts student-centered focus, the distinction it receives for all facets of learning and engaged learning, its national ranking, the pulse and feel on campus, the vision of the board and the strength of the leadership team. Kristin and I often think about philanthropy not as a gift but as an investment. As an investor, you want to back winning teams. 黑料不打烊 is run by a winning team.鈥
About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign
With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 history and will support four main funding priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, access to engaged-learning opportunities such as study abroad and service learning, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. To date, donors have contributed $181 million toward the goal.
Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.