Emily Strand is the Director of Campus Ministry and Liturgical Music and adjunct faculty in humanities at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. She is an author, podcaster, Lennon award-winning singer-songwriter and musician. She holds an MA in theology from the University of Dayton and has taught religion for more than 20 years at three Catholic institutions of higher learning: University of Dayton, Mount Carmel College of Nursing and Ohio Dominican.
Emily has published two books on Catholic sacraments and numerous peer-reviewed chapters and essays on the religious, symbolic and spiritual themes in popular fiction such as Harry Potter, Star Wars and Star Trek. With Dr. Kathryn N. McDaniel of Marietta College, Emily co-hosts Potterversity, a Potter Studies Podcast, a show in the MuggleNet family of podcasts. With McDaniel and with Amy H. Sturgis, Emily is co-editor of three scholarly books for academic presses on Star Wars, Star Trek and Harry Potter.
She is also co-host and creator of the podcast Meet Father Rivers, which explores the life and legacy of her mentor, Black Catholic priest, composer and liturgical pioneer, Fr. Clarence Joseph Rivers (co-hosted with Eric T. Styles). Emily serves the National Pastoral Musicians Association (NPM) as Chair of the Forum on Communications and her local NPM chapter as Secretary.
Emily is also a lector, cantor and accompanist for her Catholic parish, Immaculate Conception in Columbus, Ohio, and a proud member of the 501st and Rebel Legions, international Star Wars costuming associations that serve local communities through hospital visits, fundraising and appearances at charitable events.
Learn more at emilystrand.com.
