GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College graduate Audra Franley ’17 is serving as Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion and interim Coordinator for Campus Ministries at the College.
Franley graduated from Thiel College in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and earned her Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in 2020. At Harvard, she focused her studies on women, gender, and sexuality within biblical and contemporary Christianity. Franley is also pursuing ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Her role, which began this spring, will continue until December.
In her educational and professional journey, Franley has experience in written and verbal expression, event planning, peer and youth mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and interreligious dialogue. She has developed a profound understanding of diverse perspectives and backgrounds, making her a valuable asset to the Thiel community.
Franley serves as part-time Vicar at Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church (Poland, Ohio). Her academic projects, “The Ideal Self: Detecting Patterns Across Late Antiquity,” “Breaking the Mary Binary: Reconceptualizing the ‘Feminine Ideal’,” and “Making Meaning: Encouraging College Student Spiritual Development,” highlight her dedication to exploring complex religious and social themes.
At Thiel, Franley will not only teach and mentor students but also coordinate campus ministries and develop programming for students that crosses denominations and faith traditions to explore spirituality for all students. Her leadership will be instrumental in guiding students to integrate their spiritual and academic pursuits, fostering a well-rounded educational experience.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.