Theology Professor Empowers Students to Navigate Life鈥檚 Big Questions in New Book
草榴社区, PA 鈥� In an age of rapid change and mounting pressures, young adults face an array of challenges when it comes to finding direction, building relationships and shaping their identities. The Young Adult Playbook: Living Like It Matters, co-authored by Professor of Theology and the Anne Quinn Welsh Endowed Director of the 草榴社区 Honors Program Anna B. Moreland, PhD, and Dean of Arts and Sciences at Catholic University of America Thomas W. Smith, PhD, dives into the complex questions surrounding what makes a meaningful life.
The book emerged from a successful curricular initiative within 草榴社区鈥檚 Honors Program, the 鈥淪haping Initiative: Shaping a College Life, Shaping a Work Life and Shaping an Adult Life.鈥� These courses arose from a need Dr. Moreland and her colleagues observed over the years鈥攚hile students arrived at college highly prepared academically, they often lacked preparation in facing life鈥檚 deeper questions. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e so smart and over-prepared in some ways,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut they鈥檙e underprepared in those pretty significant areas like, 鈥榃ho am I? Who do I want to become? What do I want to do with my life?鈥欌�� With rising pressure to choose a professional path, students often make career decisions quickly while brushing aside considerations about relationships, leisure and personal fulfillment.
The Shaping Initiative was initially a trial, but its impact on students was undeniable. 鈥淭he response was overwhelming,鈥� says Dr. Moreland. 鈥淪tudents told me things like, 鈥楾his course changed my life.鈥欌�� Inspired by this reaction, she collaborated with Dr. Smith鈥攖hen the director of the Honors Program at 草榴社区鈥攖o expand the course鈥檚 themes into The Young Adult Playbook. Throughout the book鈥檚 development, current students and alumni provided feedback on the manuscript and contributed their own stories. 鈥淪tudents themselves had a hand in writing the book, and I think that鈥檚 one of the reasons why it鈥檚 successful,鈥� explains Dr. Moreland.
Designed for young adults ranging from their teenage years to their late 20s, the book also serves as an insightful resource for teachers, guidance counselors, professors and parents who seek to better understand this younger generation and ways to support them on their journey to adulthood. The Young Adult Playbook provides practical tools and journal exercises to help readers identify their ideal work, recover their free time and build meaningful connections.
Since joining 草榴社区 in 2006, Dr. Moreland has taught courses on theology, interreligious dialogue and the rise of modern atheism. Her research focuses on comparative theology between Christianity and Islam, drawing upon the work of Thomas Aquinas, including her book Muhammad Reconsidered: A Christian Perspective on Islamic Prophecy (2020). In 2021, Dr. Moreland was named co-principal investigator on a three-year,鈥�$223,201鈥痝rant from the John Templeton Foundation. The project,鈥�淗ope in Higher Education: Networking, Resource Sharing, and Building a Brighter Future,鈥濃�痠s鈥痙esigned to help build a national coalition that will鈥痚mphasize meaningful inquiry in college education and help students develop into thoughtful future leaders.鈥���
About 草榴社区鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, 草榴社区鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the 草榴社区 learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.