Office of the University Chaplain records, 1996-2025

In March 1996, under President George Rupp, a new position of University Chaplain was established to officially oversee the United Campus Ministry and to direct the Earl Hall Center. The position of University Chaplain is tasked with coordinating the increasingly diverse spiritual life on the campus as well as to administer its outreach programs in the neighborhood. The Rev. Jewelnel Davis is the first person appointed to the position of University Chaplain and Director of the Earl Hall Center at Columbia. She is also the first African-American woman and the first Baptist to hold the position of University Chaplain at Columbia.

The Office of the University Chaplain oversees St. Paul's Chapel operations, including the worship services, ceremonies, and music programs. The Chapel was originally built as an Anglican church but now serves as a multi-faith venue with Buddhist, Christian, and Hindu services held weekly, along with other events from various faith traditions throughout the year.

As the University Chaplain, Davis works collaboratively to foster learning spaces for political, ethical, religious, spiritual dialogue and raising intercultural awareness. With Columbia's faculty, deans, administrative teams and students, Davis helps to address issues of campus life in a diverse community of various religious backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, identities, and values.

Davis hosted a number of "Common Meals," where students were invited to a dinner discussion at the home of the University Chaplain. These community-building gatherings allowed students, faculty and administrators to come together. Davis also developed the Religious Life Advisors Program, oversees the Kraft Family Multifaith and Intercultural Fund programs, and redesigned the University Baccalaureate ceremony.

Kraft Global Fellowship Program The Kraft Global Fellowship Program is a joint initiative of the Kraft Family Fund for Intercultural and Interfaith Awareness and the Office of the University Chaplain. Fellows are selected to travel to one of the Columbia Global Centers (CGC) to work on a group research project that focuses on the religions, cultures, and communities of the destination country. The goal of the program is to encourage students of different backgrounds and faiths to learn from and with each other about their identities even as they learn about the religions and cultures outside of their familiarity.