Pew Center announces new name:

June 19, 2007 - New leadership, a refocused mission and a new name have rounded out the academic year for MU's research center on religion and the professions.

The Center was founded in 2003 as the Center for Religion, the Professions & the Public. In June, the Center received approval to change the name to the Center on Religion & the Professions.

Mason

The new name is more succinct, avoids awkward acronymns and makes marketing the Center's activities more manageable, said Dr. Debra Mason, director of the Center since September 2006.

"We still see the public as central to what we do - both in terms of outreach and programs - but also because the public is the focus of what professionals do," Mason said.

Approval for the name change, several months in the making, came from The Pew Charitable Trusts, which funds the Center, and the MU Dean of Journalism and Provost.

The Center also has a new logo and new Web address, http://corp.missouri.edu/.

The Center's philosophy is that as America grows more religiously diverse, professionals need to better understand the religious traditions and beliefs of the public they serve. The Center's research, teaching and resources center on that mission. The Center also continues to present public forums and other activities to increase visibility of religion in the public sphere.

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