Ƶ Allison welcomes Rev. Ellie Hummel
SACKVILLE, NB — Reverend Ellie Hummel has joined the Ƶ Allison University community as the Multi-Faith Chaplain and Spiritual Care Co-ordinator.
Hummel, an ordained Minister with the United Church of Canada, has spent a large part of her career working in the post-secondary field, most recently as the Chaplain and Co-ordinator of the Multi-Faith and Spirituality Centre at Concordia University in Montreal, where she worked for more than 20 years. Prior to this she oversaw several congregations in rural Saskatchewan.
“Throughout my career I’ve had the opportunity to work with people from many spiritual, religious, and philosophical backgrounds, and learned the importance of connecting and learning with others, particularly students,” says Hummel. “I love working with students and look forward to joining the Ƶ Allison and Sackville community in this role.”
Anne Comfort, Vice-President, International and Student Affairs at Ƶ Allison, says the Chaplain’s role seeks to support students, as well as faculty and staff, from all faith backgrounds on campus.
“We are delighted to welcome Ellie to the Ƶ Allison community as our next University Chaplain,” says Comfort. “Many students are coming to Ƶ Allison from interfaith backgrounds; they need to be able to see themselves here and feel supported in their spiritual, as well as their academic endeavours. I look forward to working with Ellie and continuing to support students from all spiritual paths and faiths on campus.”
In Montreal, Hummel contributed to and led a number of faith-based initiatives, both on and off campus. This included providing a place of belonging and formal programming for students from all faiths and spiritual paths and sitting on several University-wide committees relating to spiritual outreach, health, and wellbeing. She is a member of the United Church of Canada’s Anti-Racism Common Table, current member and past co-chair of the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services’ (CACUSS) Spirituality and Religious Pluralism Community of Practice committee, as well as past member of the Montreal Interfaith Council, the Canadian Christian-Jewish Consultation, and the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism.
Hummel is also a contributor to Queer Religion, an anthology on religion and homosexuality and CACUSS’s Communique publication. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria and a Master of Divinity from St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, SK.
Over the past year, the Ƶ Allison University community, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni, embarked on an extensive consultation process to understand the nature of the religious and spiritual support that should be made available on campus. This review process was led by members of the faculty of religious studies and the student affairs team.
The process for hiring this position included two panel interviews, one with students, faculty, staff, and alumni representatives, the second being comprised of entirely students to ensure their voices were heard. The University also embarked on a national search for the position.
In the role of Multi-Faith Chaplain and Spiritual Care Co-ordinator, Hummel will work with students and departments across campus including Ƶ Allison’s Elders-in-Residence, the Wellness Centre team, the Indigenous Affairs Co-ordinator, and the Black Students Advisor on programming and initiatives focused on spiritual health and support. She will also oversee operations of the University Chapel.
Rev. Hummel will begin her new role at Ƶ Allison on March 7, 2022.
