A Graduate Program That Combines Faith
with Social Action
Taniya George ‘12G, an Idente Missionary from
India, had a special reason for enrolling in the Master
in Global Development and Social Justice at St. John’s.: “A
master’s program that blends Catholic Social Thought with an
emphasis on the social concerns for our society thrilled me,” she
said.
The program, Taniya says, was the perfect way
to combine her faith with her profession. Taniya earned her B.A. in
English in 2007 from Mahatma Ghandhi University in Kottayam,
Kerala, India, and currently lives in Rome, Italy. She was drawn to
St. John’s, she says, because of “its use of advanced technology,
Catholic tradition, collaboration with the Vincentian spirit and
its Idente charism.”
She especially appreciates attending St.
John’s through its Online Learning
program. “The challenging and authentic learning methodology,
the and the openness and dedication of the professors.” These
factors contributed to her highly enriching experience throughout
the duration of her graduate work at St. John’s.
According to Taniya, the master’s in Global
Development and Social Justice taught her to think more critically,
emphasized the importance of dialogue and broadened her horizons.
She appreciates the atmosphere of love and respect among professors
and students and believes the friendships among students were not
only scholastic but built on truth and care.
Taniya’s class comprised 16 other students
from around the world. Together they strengthened their shared a
concern for social issues in their countries and for global
development in general. Taniya says the program was “a turning
point in her life, encouraging her to think more deeply than ever
about social issues in her country. Also, having classmates from
developed and developing countries alike helped her to discover and
experience the beauty and value of other cultures and lifestyles.
In addition, Online Learning and Blackboard erased barriers
between herself and her classmates, who participated in the same
course while in different countries.
At first, Taniya observes, studying with
people of different cultural backgrounds, perceptions, and faith
was not easy. But as time passed, she realized that it was the
program’s greatest treasure. After completing the final
requirements for the program and presenting her capstone
project—entitled “Communal Conflict and Underdevelopment: A Case
Study from Orissa”—Taniya plans to pursue her doctoral studies. For
now, Taniya works in the Indian Malayam
section of Vatican Radio, assisting with programs on Idente
Youth and the
World Youth Parliament. Her responsibilities include preparing,
recording, and editing news and interviews and maintaining the web
page. In her work, she applies the experience she gained in the
Master in Global Development and Social Justice, which “taught me
that I could be a true servant of God and contribute to make this
world a better place.”