Blair Wilner is a 2nd year PhD student in the Department of Religious Studies at the University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. He studies conceptions of "human" and "nature" in modern theology and literature. He is particularly interested in ways the other-than-human world is an ally in resistance against forces of domination like settler-colonialism, white supremacy, and capitalism.
At present, Blair serves as the co-chair of the Religious Studies Graduate Student Association and the graduate coordinator of Environmental Humanities at UVA.
Blair is one of two PhD Plus Liaisons from Department of Religious Studies in 2020-2021. Alongside other PhD+ Liaisons, Blair will collaborate with institutional and departmental teams on the broader goals of the AAU PhD Education initiative; namely, to make the full range of PhD career pathways visible, valued and viable for all students. As a PhD Plus Liaison Program for AAU PhD Education initiative, he looks forward to improve the quality of life for graduate students and help make departmental processes more open and transparent.
ABOUT THE LIAISON PROGRAM
As a professional development experience for advanced graduate students, PhD Plus Liaison program affords the opportunity to collaborate with department leaders and PhD Plus administrators to identify ways in which field-specific training and education can be enhanced through the implementation of programs, practices, and activities broadly related to professional development.
In 2020-2021, eight liaisons will provide student leadership on the University's AAU PhD Education initiative and represent the four participating departments: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, English and Religious Studies.