Steering Committee

2021 Honorary Chair

James P. Buchanan, Ph.D.

In recognition of his twenty years of outstanding contributions to interfaith relations in Cincinnati, James P. Buchanan, Ph.D., former director of the Brueggeman Center for Dialogue at Xavier University, has been named Honorary Chair of the 4th Annual Festival of Faiths.  Educated at Yale University and the University of Chicago and a recognized scholar in the fields of interfaith relations and environmental sustainability, Dr. Buchanan serves on many non-profit boards and advisory committees including:  RefugeeConnect, The Immigrant and Refugee Law Center, Compass (focused on Immigrants), The African Professional Network (APNET), The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, EquaSion, The Cincinnati Regional Coalition Against Hate, InterfaithCincy, A Blessing to One Another, Faith Communities Go Green and the Cincinnati Festival of Faiths. He has served on the Mayor’s Commission on Immigration and Mayor’s Steering Committee on the Green Cincinnati Plan.  “Dr. Buchanan personifies what the Festival of Faiths is all about — promoting learning, respect and collaboration among our community’s diverse religious traditions.  He has honored us with his years of commitment to the cause of interfaith relations, so it’s time we honored him for his service,” said Chip Harrod, Festival Director.

2021 Festival Co-Chairs

Penny Pensak

Afreen Asif

Jaipal Singh

Bishop Marvin F. Thomas Sr.

2021 Festival Steering Committee