Director and Staff

The Director of Religious and Spiritual Life works with staff chaplains and affiliated faith community leaders to create, articulate and carry out the mission of the Interfaith Chapel within the University and greater Rochester community. She provides leadership by encouraging multi-faith understanding, interfaith dialogue, education, and cooperation, through a variety of educational programs, spiritual offerings and service projects in the University and the local community off campus. She oversees the many religious and spiritual activities that comprise the life of the Interfaith Chapel, encouraging cooperation and understanding between diverse religious and spiritual groups.

The Rev. Dr. Yarbrough mentors undergraduate student Interfaith Chapel Interns in the creation of ongoing interfaith events and dialogues, including bi-weekly Interfaith Cafes, a Fall and a Spring Interfaith Banquet with invited speakers, interfaith service projects, and off campus trips to religious sites and centers. She has taken students to the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 2015, 2018 and 2023 where she and the students facilitated workshops and presentations. She offers training for faculty and staff in Religious Diversity. She has received grants from Interfaith America to promote interreligious literacy on campus, including a yearlong program on Science and Religion, the creation of an academic course on Religion and Public Health, the institution of an academic course Bridging the Gap: Dialogue Across Difference and expansion of the services of the department of religious and spiritual life to graduate and professional students.

An ordained Episcopal priest, The Rev. Dr. Yarbrough serves as the Canon for Interreligious and Ecumenical Relations for the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, and serves the national Episcopal Church on its Standing Commission on Interreligious and Ecumenical Relations. She served for six years on the Episcopal Church’s Anglican Roman Catholic Dialogue commission. Regular dialogue with interfaith leaders on other campuses in Rochester and across the country, participation in the Rochester interfaith community, and in regional, national and international interfaith gatherings enhances her outreach at the University.

The director also holds an appointment as associate professor in the Department of Religion and Classics, teaching courses in Sexuality and World Religions, Religion and Public Health, Introduction to Interreligious Studies, Bridging the Gap: Dialogue Across Difference, and, during years the Parliament of the World Religions convenes, a Global Citizenship Practicum based on participation in the Parliament. She has published articles in academic journals and books on various aspects of interreligious work on campus and beyond.

The Rev. Dr. Yarbrough earned her Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary, her M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and her undergraduate degree in Religion from Barnard College, Columbia University. She has taught courses at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and Keuka College.

Rev. Dr. C. Denise Yarbrough
Director of Religious and Spiritual Life
cyarbrou@ur.rochester.edu

Staff

Jeremy Lane
Chapel Coordinator
(585) 275-8421
jeremy.lane@rochester.edu

Kristal Lowry
Administrative Coordinator/Reservations Coordinator
kristal.lowry@rochester.edu
(585) 275-4321

Sasha
Chapel Therapy Dog
Room 204 Interfaith Chapel

Sasha the therapy dog has regular office hours during the academic semesters on Mondays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Students can stop by and spend time with her during those hours at their convenience. She is available for student or staff events and visits at other times upon request.