KPBS Midday Edition

SDSU Expands Course List To Offer Secular Studies

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Nate John / Innovation Specialist

Published August 29, 2011 at 8:30 AM PDT

This story was published more than 13 years ago.

Southern California colleges are ahead of the curve as more universities offer courses in the study of secularism and unbelief.

Southern California colleges are leading the country in the field of secular studies. Claremont college recently announced their latest bachelor's program devoted to secular studies, UC Irvine now offers courses on Atheism and Secularism, and San Diego State University is debuting its first course on Atheism, Humanism and Secularism this Fall. We will be speaking with the SDSU professor who is instructing the course to discuss this recent trend in higher education and the field of religious studies.

Guest:

Professor Roy Whitaker, SDSU religious studies professor and expert in the history of religion and irreligion; and African American religious thought.

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KPBS Midday Edition College Religion

Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Nate John

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Nate John previously managed products and projects for the innovation team that pertain to news and on-demand media. He earned his bachelor’s degree in religious studies at SDSU. His favorite projects focused on religion in media. He's had a lot of jobs at KPBS, serving as its first newsroom coordinator, then the first innovation specialist. During pledge, Nate often stepped in as on-air talent for TV and radio. He also served as news director for SDSU’s campus radio station and works on his own independent podcasts. With experience in TV, audio and the web, Nate enjoys working with any tool that helps people devour great stories. He also loves hiking, camping, breakfast food, and binging great TV. Nate accepts proposals for "game changing" cloud solutions on behalf of Jim Tinsky.

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