Center for Excellence in World Arts at Dallas Int'l

06/03/2026

We are so thankful for the many years Robin Harris has served as the Chair of CEWA! What a joyful time we had honoring her this week!

05/23/2026

Great news! DIU's Doctorate of World Arts and Ministry (DWAM) has received its final accreditation approval, and applications are now open at https://diu.edu/dwam - we're so thrilled! If you know of people who might be interested in this professional doctorate or in the related PhD we offer, pass along the news that applications will be accepted until June 15.

The MA in Arts and Trauma Healing equips students to guide others through culturally relevant artistic modalities for trauma healing.

05/08/2026

Rejoicing at CEWA today for this fabulous news! We're launching the MA in ATH in Ukraine!

In just 10 days, more than 40 donors helped make something extraordinary possible.

Dallas International University has officially reached the fundraising goal needed to launch Arts & Trauma Healing training in Ukraine this summer.

The first cohort of students is already moving through the admissions process, and leaders in Ukraine will soon begin training to bring healing, hope, and resilience to communities deeply affected by war and trauma.

We are overwhelmed by the generosity, prayers, and support that made this possible. God has been incredibly faithful.

Read more about the initiative here:

https://www.diu.edu/diu-today/diu-reaches-ukraine-project-fundraising-goal-in-just-10-days/

05/04/2026

Join us in June for the Arts for a better Future workshop as we learn how to engage with arts across cultures and spark creativity in diverse contexts!

04/28/2026

Big news, and a big need for CEWA - please pray for this project in Ukraine!

This came together faster than any of us expected.

An opportunity is in front of us to launch trauma healing training in Ukraine this June, equipping leaders who are already serving people living in the middle of war and loss.

Now we have a narrow window to act.

We need to raise $65,000 by May 6 to make this launch possible.
These funds will go directly toward scholarships, translation, and the on-the-ground training needed to equip leaders immediately.

Delay isn’t neutral. It means leaders wait. Communities wait. Healing waits.

We’re stepping forward in faith and trusting God to provide.
If you’d like to be part of this, you can join us in three ways:
• Give toward the need
• Pray for the leaders and communities in Ukraine
• Share this opportunity with others who may want to be involved

Give here: https://diu.networkforgood.com/projects/158786-arts-trauma-healing-training-in-ukraine

Center for Excellence in World Arts at Dallas Int'l

03/14/2026

On March 4, we were honored to host 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 for the 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 & 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. The following day, Mary was joined by her husband, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧, to speak at DIU's 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦. Todd and Mary drew on their decades of experience as EthnoArts consultants with SIL, their engagement with hundreds of minority communities, and their scholarly expertise in ethnomusicology, arts therapies, and other domains. This foundation served as a backdrop to their presentations of novel, fruitful research- and experience-based approaches to Scripture Engagement and Trauma Healing.

In the Schrag lecture, Mary shared how cultural arts can play vital roles in trauma healing, engaging the body, mind, and spirit through the processes of regulate, relate, and reason. Her presentation wove together insights from neuroscience-informed trauma recovery, biblical narratives, and real-world ministry contexts to highlight how culturally grounded artistic practices can support resilience and healing.

In DIU’s Academic Forum, Todd and Mary presented their research on ethno-sensoryscapes. Ethno-sensoryscapes are unique categories of indigenous sensory expressions that make EthnoArts tangible within local communities. By engaging the senses and drawing from lived cultural experience, these artistic expressions bridge the gap between written forms of Scripture and the dynamic storytelling traditions of oral cultures. Case studies from Asia showed how culturally relevant arts move beyond the intellect to become living expressions of faith, fostering deeper, heart-level engagement with the Gospel.

We’re deeply grateful for the many years the Saurmans have mentored and taught DIU students in Arts and Trauma Healing, and for the insights and inspiration they brought to this year’s lecture series.

We had a great turnout for the Schrag Lecture and Performance Series this year, and we are grateful to Dr. Brian Schrag (DIU professor emeritus) and his wife Barbara for making this endowed lecture series possible. This year, both presentations are freely available by writing to [email protected].

02/20/2026

Join us at CEWA for a special presentation by Dr. Mary Beth Saurman on Wed, March 4 at 3:30pm with dinner to follow. Online link in comments.

01/05/2026

DIU is considering developing a professional doctorate - 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 (𝐃𝐖𝐀𝐌) - that will share almost all of the PhD-level coursework, but which will have altered entrance and exit (capstone project) requirements that are more focused on those deeply engaged in ministry.

To find out more, register your interest, and give feedback on this developing program, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟒-𝐦𝐢𝐧. 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 in the first comment by January 11.

Like the PhD in World Arts at DIU, this program is:
• part-time or full-time
• online except for2-3 short intensives
• 4 MA-level courses, 8 doctoral courses, plus final project
• affordable due to excellent scholarships
• perfect for internationals

11/26/2025

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11/11/2025

"When the Brain Can't Hear God: Understanding Trauma and Disconnection" - two Arts and Trauma Healing (ATH) videos are going viral! CEWA professor and Director of our ATH program, Dr. Beth Argot, spoke at Dallas Theological Seminary's Arts Week, and we are thrilled at the response her two videos are getting! See the links in the comments.