Christine Gallagher

Head of Programs | Program Director for Teachers & Schools

Christine Gallagher currently serves as the Head of Programs and Program Director for Teachers and Schools at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies (ICJS). She leads a yearlong fellowship for public, private, and independent school teachers to explore how religion is present in their curriculum and to gain confidence in talking about religion in the classroom. She presents on this topic to Baltimore-area schools and school districts. In addition, she participates in national conferences and gatherings on religious literacy in K-12 education. She’s the editor of a forthcoming volume from Interreligious Studies Press. Prior to joining ICJS in 2019, Christine spent more than a decade as a classroom teacher and administrator in secondary schools, most recently as the director of mission and ministry at a Baltimore school. She grew up in Philadelphia, holds a B.A. in American Studies from Georgetown University, a M.A. in Theology and a M.A. in History from Villanova University.

EXPERTISE

Interreligious Encounter in the Classroom
Role of Interreligious Leadership in Educational Settings
Religious Literacy Professional Development
Interreligious Perspectives and Pedagogy
Mission-based Institutional Reflection

Selected Presentations

“Literature as Encounter Across Religious Difference,” National Council of Teachers of English annual conference, November 2024
“Dialogue and Religious Pluralism: Communicating across Religious Differences,” Loyola University Maryland, September 2024
“Building Religious Literacy in the Social Studies and ELA Classroom,” Howard County Public Schools, August 2024
“Partnering for Dialogue: A Case Study Featuring the Institute for Islamic, Christian, & Jewish Studies and Friends School of Baltimore,” Middle States Council for Social Studies Annual Conference, March 2024
“Separation of Church and State: Meeting the Challenge of Teaching Religion in US Public Schools,” Parliament of the World Religions, August 2023
“Voices from Secondary Education and Community Youth Organizations on Interreligious Engagement,” Parliament of the World Religions, August 2023

Teachers Talk Religion

2021-05-20

Four ICJS Teacher Fellows join in conversation with Christine Gallagher, ICJS program director for Teacher Programs, on where they see religion in their classroom curriculum, what questions students are asking, and how they are learning to transform their institutions into places that promote pluralism and religious understanding. Participants include: Jill Aizenstein (Beth Tfiloh Dahan), Brendan Bailey (Loyola Blakefield), Kenya Beard (Baltimore Polytechnic), and Patrice Frasier (Baltimore Polytechnic).

Advocating for democracy—A Jewish grassroots approach

2022-09-14

Faith-based organizations have a long history of involvement and achievement in grassroots community organizing. From the historic struggle for civil rights in the U.S. to present-day efforts to work toward racial equity, fair housing and clean elections, religious voices have been at the forefront. Laura Wallace, Maryland Organizing Director for Jews United for Justice, discussed how Jewish values inform their work promoting democracy and striving for social and economic equity.

Select Publications and Presentations

Can We Talk? Urgent Interreligious Conversations in a Time of War

Facilitated dialogues on the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

ICJS Teachers Fellowship Program

Interview with Christine Gallagher and teacher fellows

Teaching with an Interreligious Framework

Q & A with ICJS’ Christine Gallagher