Grant Potts

Post-Secondary Education

University of Pennsylvania
Doctor of Philosophy
Religious Studies

Arizona State University
Master of Arts
Religious Studies

Trainings/Institutes Organized/Led

  • Co-Director, Great Questions Faculty Fellows, Fall 2024 – August 2027.
  • Course Redesign Workshop focused on 1001 Nights and Jataka Tales, co-leader, Great Questions. Foundation, Summer 2024
  • Co-Leader of for the 2023/2024 cohort of the Great Questions Foundation Fellows, Fall 2023 –
  • Spring 2024.
  • Course Redesign Workshop focused on Antigone and Death and the King’s Horseman, co-leader, Great. Questions Foundation, Summer 2023
  • Great Questions/Integrated Reading and Writing Redesign project, Fall 2020 – Spring 2021, and Training Institute, Summer 2021
  • Conflict Transformation Academy, Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Summer 2022
  • Great Questions Online 6-week Teaching Institute, Summer 2020
  • Great Questions Faculty Training 6-week foundational training, Great Questions Program in Humanities, Austin Community College, Fall 2019.
  • Wrote Lesson Scripts for four lessons, “Equity in Teaching and Learning,” as part of the Building a Community of Learners Module of the Austin Community College 2019-2020 Teaching and Learning Academy.
  • Great Questions Faculty Training 6-week foundational training, Great Questions Program in Humanities, Austin Community College, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Summer 2021, Summer 2022.
  • Conflict Resolution Skills 16-hour training, Peace and Conflict Studies Center, Austin Community College, July/August 2018, November 2017, February 2016.

Administrative/Leadership

  •  
  • Current Interim Dean, Curriculum Management, Austin Community College (Fall 2024 - Current)
  • Interim Dean, Liberal Arts: Humanities and Communications, Austin Community College (Spring 2023 – Summer 2023)
  • Department Chair, Philosophy, Religion, and Humanities, Austin Community College (Fall 2013 – Fall 2022, Interim, 2013 – 14)
  • Interim Assistant Dean, Arts and Humanities, Austin Community College (Spring 2013)
  • Online Writing Lab Coordinator, St Edward's University (Fall 2008 – Spring 2009)
  • Critical Writing Fellow in Residence, University of Pennsylvania (Fall 2004 – Spring 2006)
  •  

EDUCATION, AWARDS, AND HONORS

  •  
  • 2008 PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
    • Dissertation Title: Redeeming Ritual: Ritual and Social Action in the work of Turner, Rappaport, Grimes, & Bell.
    • Field Exam Topics: Philosophical Hermeneutics; Religion, Society, and Modernity; Ritual Studies
    • Minor Tradition: Islam
  • Sabbatical Leave, “Creating Open Educational Resources for Religious Literacy,” Austin
  • Community College, Fall 2023 – Summer 2024
  • Next Generation Leadership Academy, Austin Community College, Fall 2018 – Spring 2019
  • Social Justice Mediation Training, Social Justice Mediation Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, May 2018
  • Futures Institute Member, Austin Community College, Fall 2015 – Spring 2016
  • 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training, Dispute Resolution Center, Austin, Texas, June 2016
  • Outstanding Adjunct Teaching Award, Center for Teaching Excellence, St. Edward’s University, 2013/2014. Finalist, 2012/2013.
  • National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award, 2011
  • Dean’s Scholar for the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 2005 – 6.
  • 1999 MA in Religious Studies from Arizona State University. Thesis: “The Disappearing Mason: Interpreting Masonry through the 18th Century”
  • 1996 BA in Religion and English Literature from Denison University, graduated summa cum laude, inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
  •  

Teaching Experience

  • Austin Community College. Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy (Fall 2014 - Current), Associate Professor of Religion (Fall 2009 – Summer 2014), Adjunct Professor of Religion (Fall 2008 – Summer 2009).  Taught:
    • PHIL 1301: Introduction to Philosophy (22 sections)
    • PHIL 1304: Introduction to Comparative Religion (78 sections)
    • PHIL 1316: History of Eastern Religions (5 sections)
    • PHIL 1317: History of Western Religions (4 sections)
    • PHIL 2306: Ethics (11 sections)
    • PHIL 2321: Philosophy of Religion (8 sections)
    • HUMA 1301: Humanities I: Great Questions (7 sections)
  • St. Edward’s University, Adjunct Faculty, University Programs and Religious Studies (Summer 2009 – Current) Taught:
    • RELS 1304: Introduction to Religions of the World (2 sections)
    • RELS 2342: Special Topics, Religion and America (6 sections)
    • GLST 2149: Global Studies Internship (1 section)
    • CAPS 4360: Senior Capstone (24 sections)
    • CULF 2321, American Dilemmas (8 sections)
    • CULF 3330, History and Evolution of Global Porcesses (8 sections)
    • CULF 3331, World Religions and Globalizaition (1 section)
  • Pacific University, Instructor, English Department (Spring 2007).  Taught:
    • ENGW 201: Expository Writing (1 section)
  • University of Pennsylvania, Critical Writing Fellow in Residence (Fall 2004 – Spring 2006), Instructor, English Writing Program (Fall 2001 – Spring 2002), Instructor, Religious Studies (Summer 2000, Summer 2001), Taught:
    • RELS 006: Understanding the Cult Controversy (1 section)
    • RELS 009: Writing about Religion (6 sections)
    • RELS 106: Modern Religious Thought (1 section)

Professional Publications

  • “Conversation: The Challenges of Teaching in Nano Departments,” with Bryan Wagoner, Natalie Gummer, Nathan Rein, Curtis Thompson, Giovanna Czander, Jill Peterson, and Adam Pryor in Teaching Theology and Religion 20.3 (July 2017): 267 – 282
  • “Negotiating the Social in the Ritual Theory of Victor Turner and Roy Rappaport,” in Negotiating Rites, edited by Frank Neubert and Ute Huesken, Oxford University Press, 2012.
  • Instructors Handbook for Roy Robson’s Think: World Religions, New York: Pearson, 2011.
  • “Imagining Gaia: Perspectives and Prospects on Gaia, Science, and Religion.” Ecotheology 8.1 (2003): 30-49.
  • “Church of All Worlds,” “Golden Dawn,” “James Lovelock,” “Masons, Fraternal Order of,” The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, edited by Bron R. Taylor, London: Continuum, 2005: 383-4, 706, 1013-4, 1053-4.
  • Review of Michael York, Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion, Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review 2.1 (2011).
  • Review of Adrian J. Ivakhiv, Claiming Sacred Ground: Pilgrims and Politics at Glastonbury and Sedona, Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies 6.1 (May 2004): 134-6.

Presentations

  • Presenter, “Character in the Community: Innovating General Education at Austin Community College,” Educating Character Across Differences, Wake Forest University, December 7, 2024
  • Presenter, “The Place of Reason in Religion: Cicero on The Nature of the Gods,” Association for Core Texts and Courses, Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN, April 12, 2024.
  • Presenter, “Despair and the Commerce of Reason in Plato’s Phaedo,” Association for Core Texts and Courses, Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, April 1, 2023.
  • Co-Presenter, “Asking the Great Question: An Austin Community College Success Initiative,” Innovations Conference, League of Innovation, Tempe, AZ, March 13th, 2023
  • Co-Presenter, “Supporting Student Success Through an INRW + HUMA 1301 Great Questions Co-Requisite Pairing,” Texas Community College Teachers Association 76th Annual Convention, Houston, TX, March 4th, 2023.
  • Panelist, Plenary Session, “Liberal Education at Community Colleges,” Association for Core Texts and Courses, Annual Meeting, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, April 23rd, 2022.
  • Round-Table Discussion, “Why ‘Great Books’ at Community College?” American Association of Colleges and Universities, Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, January 25, 2020
  • Panelist, “Making the Move from a Faculty Position to Administration: Pros, Cons, and Things to Consider,” with the Academic Relations Committee, Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, San Diego, CA, November 25th, 2019.
  • Panelist, “Teaching Comparison,” with the Comparative Studies in Religion Unit, Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, San Diego, CA, November 24th, 2019.
  • Co-Led with Ted Hadzi-Antich, “The Great Questions Seminar,” Texas Pathways Institute sponsored by the Texas Success Center in San Antonio, TX, April 25th, 2019
  • Presentation, “Discipline and Fervor, the Monkey King’s Madcap Journey through Religion to Enlightenment,” at the 25th Annual Conference of the Association for Core Texts and Courses, Santa Fe, New Mexico, April 12th, 2019
  • Presentation, “Beauty, Truth, and Education” at Austin Community College, April 2nd, 2019.
  • Panelist, “Liberal Arts in the 21st Century Community College” at Austin Community College on November 13th, 2018.
  • Presentation, “Building Departmental Processes for Quality Distance Learning” at Distance Learning Symposium, Austin Community College, Austin, TX, November 10, 2017.
  • Presentation, “The Philosophy of Rite: Ritual in Chinese Ethical Thought” at Austin Community College, Austin, TX, November 8, 2017.
  • Presentation, “Has God Left the Building” at Austin Community College, Austin, TX, February 23rd, 2017.
  • Co-Presenter, “Conflict Resolution Skills Training,” for Futures Institute, Austin Community College, on January 14th, 2016.
  • Discussant, Panel, “Schools: Zones of Conflict” at The Right to Peace, Growing up with Conflict, at Austin Community College, Austin, TX, May 1, 2015.
  • Presentation, “Mysticism and Sexuality” at Austin Community College on February 10, 2015.
  • Discussant for Screening of Sita Sings the Blues at Austin Community College, Austin, TX, November 12, 2013.
  • Presentation, “Understanding Contemporary American Spirituality in its Social Context,” at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX, June 23, 2013.
  • Presentation, “The Shifting Role of Churches in the American Religious Landscape,” at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX, June 16, 2013.
  • Moderated Panel, “Faith, Security, and Peace” at Freedom from Fear and Want: Conceptualizing Peace and Security conference at Austin Community College, Austin, TX, April 19, 2013.
  • Presented Paper, “’Half Known and Half Concealed’: Text, Tradition, and Autonomy in a Contemporary Ritual Use of Grimoires” to Text, Context, and Non-Text: Grimoires in Central Europe conference, University of Texas, Austin, TX, April 5, 2013.
  • Presentation, “Varieties of Mystical Experience,” at St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX, Pt. 1 Nov. 26th, 2012, Pt. 2, Nov. 30th, 2012.
  • Presented Paper, “Knowledge Practices and Knowledge Production in Ordo Templi Orientis,” to Crafting Knowledge: Ritual, Art, and Thought symposium, Rice University, Houston, TX, March 29, 2012.
  • Chaired Session, “Teaching Comparative Religion in Texas Community Colleges” at Annual Convention of the Texas Community College Teachers Association and Texas Community College Association, San Antonio, TX, January 29, 2011.
  • Presented Paper, “Creativity, Exchange, and Institutionalization in a Ritual Magic Lodge” to the Western Esotericism Group at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, San Diego, CA, November 17, 2007.
  • Presented Paper, “The Persistence of the Social: Ritual Theory, Improvisation, and Determinacy” to the Ritual Studies Group of the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion,  San Diego, CA, November 17, 2007
  • Presented Paper, “’The Method of Science, The Aim of Religion: Science and Religion in a Ritual Magic Lodge,” at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Anthropology of Religion, Phoenix, AZ, April 15, 2007.
  • Served on Panel for the New Religious Movement Group Junior-Senior Scholar Roundtable held at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Washington, DC, November 18, 2006.
  • Respondent for Panel on “Words and Images in Motion: Liturgy, Devotion, Dance,” Graduate Humanities Forum of the University of Pennsylvania.  6th Annual Conference, February 16, 2005.
  • Presented paper, “Paganism, Imagination, and Nature: The Question of Universality” to Conference on Contemporary Pagan Studies held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Denver, CO, November 21, 2003.
  • Presented paper, “Explicators of Gaia: Lovelock, Primavesi, Zell” to Nature Religions Group meeting in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Denver, CO, November 17, 2001.
  • Presented paper, “Ensorcelled Confusion: Magic as a Slippery Category in The Understanding of Culture,” at the Western Regional Conference of the American Academy of Religion, San Francisco, CA, March 15, 1999.

 

Service/Memberships

  • Austin Community College
    • Co-Lead, Bats 2 Cats Implementation (Spring 2025 – Current)
    • Coordinator, Curriculum and Programs Manual Rewrite (Fall 2024 – Current)
    • Co-Chair, Reimagine Schedule Development Strike Team (Spring 2023)
    • Academic Lead, Community College Humanities Association 2023 Conference (Fall 2022 – Fall 2023)
    • Student Rights and Responsibilities Committee (Fall 2022)
    • Chancellor’s Priority Academic Alert Workgroup (Spring 2022)
    • Strategic Enrollment Committee (2020 to 2022), Co-Chair of Adult Subcommittee
    • Religious Literacy Working Group (2019 to current)
    • Great Questions Program Leadership (2017 to current)
    • Departmental Governance Committee, Philosophy, Religion and Humanities (2010 t0 2022)
    • Peace and Conflict Studies Advisory Committee (2013 to current)
    • Faculty Advising Implementation Working Group, co-Chair (2017 to 2019)
    • Distance Learning Summer Working Group (2017)
    • Faculty Advising Ad Hoc Committee (2017)
    • Academic and Student Affairs Council (2015 - 2018)
    • Program Review Working Group (2015 - 2018)
    • Self Study Chair for Philosophy, Religion, and Humanities (2012 – 2013)
    • Faculty Coach for Religion and Humanities (2012 - 2013)
    • Discipline Assessment Cycle Committee (2012 - 2016)
    • General Studies Task Force Committee (2011 - 2012)
  • Great Questions Foundation
    • Board Member, Treasurer (2019 to current)
  • American Academy of Religion
    • Academic Relations Committee (2016 - 2019)
    • Respondent Group, College-Wide Religious Literacy Project (2016 – 2019)
    • Steering Committee for Ritual Studies Group (2009 - 2018, Co-Chair 2014 - 2016)
    • Student Departmental Liaison (2005 – 2007)
    • On Steering Committee for Rethinking the Field Consultation (2006 - 2007)
  • St Edward’s University
    • Developed Online Format for Senior Capstone Research Seminar (2015)
    • Global Understanding Workshop Expert (2013)
  • Kelly Writers House at the University of Pennsylvania
    • Coordinator for In Words Writing Group (2005 – 2006)
  • Graduate Student Associations Council at University of Pennsylvania
    • Departmental Representative (2000 – 2001)

Published: June 02, 2025