Chaplains

Our chaplains are here for you to provide pastoral care and support. Feel free to contact any of our chaplains to arrange a meeting. 

University Chaplains

Reverend Dr Fiona Douglas

University Chaplain
[email protected]
+44 (0)1382 384156

Fiona was appointed as Chaplain to the University in 1997. She leads a chaplaincy team, including honorary chaplains, who provide support for our student and staff community across different faiths and world beliefs.

Fiona grew up in the West of Scotland and graduated with an MA from Glasgow University and a BD and PhD from Edinburgh University.  She is an ordained Minister of the Church of Scotland and a former Assistant Minister of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. In 2009, she was awarded an MBE for services to Higher Education. 

As an Honorary Vice President of the University Sports' Union, she tries to keep fit and enjoys supporting from the sidelines! She is married and has a daughter Emily.

Reverend Michael Allardice

Assistant University Chaplain
[email protected]
+44 (0)1382 384127

As Assistant Chaplain, Michael provides support for the University Chaplain, the wider work of Chaplaincy, as well as being available to both staff and students regardless of their belief or philosophy of life.  He was Ordained into Ministry by the Church of Scotland in 2014 and is currently supporting a congregation in the East Neuk of Fife.  His ministry is a part-time one, fitting alongside his roles within the University as an Academic Skills Tutor (60%), in the Academic Skills Centre, and as Assistant Chaplain (40%).  He has been an Honorary Chaplain since 2012.  He came to the University as a Mature Student in 1993 (studying History and Philosophy) and has worked in a variety of roles across the University, including in Widening Access & Participation and Academic Skills. 

Honorary Chaplains

Catholic

Father Gregory Murphy OP

Honorary Chaplain, Roman Catholic
[email protected]
+44 (0)1382 509919 or +44 (0)7598 113842 (mobile)

Greg’s connection with Dundee University goes back to his student days where he obtained two degrees in Biochemistry/cell signalling. Following which, Greg spent 5 years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Glasgow.  In 2001, he joined the English Province of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and gained a Batchelor’s degree in Catholic Theology (studied mainly in Oxford but with the course validated by the Pontifical University of St Thomas, Rome) and a Master of Studies from Oxford in the area of Science and Religion. After ordination, Greg pursued pastoral ministries in London and Leicester before being assigned to the Dominican community in Edinburgh. Currently Greg is parish priest of St Joseph’s church; member of the chaplaincy team at Dundee university; and part-time prison chaplain at HMPs Castle Huntly (Open) and Perth.

Islam

Imam Zuber Karim

Honorary Chaplain, Islam
[email protected]
+44 (0)7838 003763 (mobile)

Zuber Karim is an Imam at Al Maktoum Mosque which is very close to the University.   He is among the co-founders of BBSI (British Board of Imams and Scholars), an ecumenical organisation that brings together Muslim Imams, scholars and academics who jointly work on and discuss many pressing issues affecting the Muslim community in the UK.  He is also a part-time businessman. 

Episcopal

Reverend Professor Annalu Waller

Honorary Chaplain, Anglican (Scottish Episcopal)
[email protected]
+44 (0)1382 388223 (office) +44 (0)1382 644570 (home)

Annalu joined the University as a PhD student in 1989 and has been employed at the UoD since 1992 (as post-doc, then lecturer since 1998). Having studied part-time at the Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church (2002-2004), she was ordained deacon in West Park Hall in 2004. Although Annalu has served a traditional three-year curacy at St Margaret’s Church in Lochee, she was priested in 2005 as a “minister in secular employment” (“worker priest”). Annalu’s ministry is therefore focussed on her place of work and as such, is not linked to a parish church. The joy of being a worker priest is that she can support both staff and students in their context, without people necessarily being aware that she is an ordained priest.  Annalu has been an honorary chaplain since 2004 and is the Anglican chaplain for the university.

Jewish

Rabbi Eliran Shabo and Ayalah Shapira-Shabo

[email protected]

Rabbi Eliran and Ayalah were both born in Israel and now live in Edinburgh. They previously lived in Athens, Greece where Rabbi Eliran served as the Junior Rabbi of Athens and led the Jewish Studies program for high school students, and Ayalah promoted collaborations between the local and Israeli communities. Rabbi Eliran and Ayalah offer support and guidance to Jewish students.

Humanist

Robbie Sharpe

Humanist Celebrant
[email protected]
+44 (0)7909 293 415

In his role as Honorary Humanist Chaplain Robbie works to support students and staff, something he greatly enjoys. Robbie is a registered Celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland and kept busy with weddings (circa 50 a year).  In his time as an Honorary Chaplain at the University Robbie has had two contemporary philosophy speakers, A. C. Grayling and Julian Baggini give talks as part of the Chaplaincy’s One people: Many Philosophies series of Online lectures.   Robbie recently invited the CEO of Humanist Society Scotland, Fraser Sutherland, who gave a talk at the Chaplaincy on the role of the Society in Scotland especially in relation to Higher Education. 

Hindu

Prabhupada Prana Dasa [George Mullen] (Hindu) 

I was born in Glasgow and brought up in Cumbernauld. At the age of 20 I joined an Ashram in Worcestershire and began my training as a Vaishnava (Hindu) monk.  In 1986 I returned to Scotland with 2 other monks to open a temple.  After a year of fund raising a temple was opened in Lesmahagow in March 1987.  Since then, I’ve been committed to serving the faith and wider community in various ways.  I have organised cultural festivals, headed building projects, organised educational programs, developed Hindu faith groups throughout Scotland and initiated and implemented F4S (Food for Scotland) where free food is distributed to those in need.  I’ve been a practitioner of Vaishnava culture (a branch of Hinduism) for over 40 years and have extensive experience with both the Indian and western communities and of all ages.

Baha'i

Carrie Varjavandi

Multi-faith/Baha’i
[email protected]
+44 (0)7910 218 871

Carrie studied Textile Design at Glasgow School of Art and Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art.  She has taught art education in schools and communities in the UK, China and Mongolia.  Carrie’s particular interest in Inter Faith relations led her to volunteer with Faith and Belief (Dundee and Tayside), where she has organised a number of successful projects.  Carrie has served on the Board of the Scottish Inter Faith Council, representing Baha'i Council for Scotland, and was the Scottish Interfaith Council Education and Development Officer (2007 – 2009). She currently chairs Faith and Belief Tayside.

Labyrinth Chaplain

Robert Holmes

Honorary Chaplain, Labyrinth
[email protected]

Robert is the author of several books on labyrinths and meditation and has been running the monthly labyrinth walks at the Chaplaincy since November 2008, promoting the labyrinth as a wellbeing tool open to all faiths and none.  It attracts students, staff, and non-University Dundee people; these Chaplaincy walks have fostered strong community ties with local people who otherwise would never come onto the campus.  It is a year-round event and attendees are from a wide range of Christian, Buddhist, Pagan, Shamanic, Spiritual and Atheist beliefs.

Pagan Chaplain

Dr Alys Einion

Honorary Chaplain, Pagan
[email protected]

Dr Alys Einion is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences, and is a midwife, author and editor, and Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives. She has been a pagan for 40 years, and has worked in interfaith chaplaincy in previous academic roles, promoting interfaith connections and understanding, advocating for the inclusion of pagan faiths and beliefs. Alys has experienced a range of pagan faiths and paths, including Wicca, Druidism and Heathenism, alongside leading groups practising traditional/hereditary Welsh beliefs and Welsh shamanic practices. Her PhD in Creative Writing (Aberystwyth University) explored aspects faith in the context of women’s lives as part of developing her first published novel. She is also a herbalist, complementary therapist and a practitioner of therapeutic hypnosis and hypnobirthing. She writes and publishes about spirituality in midwifery and health, and about intersectional inclusion, especially LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Alys is currently SHS Student Support Lead, and is passionate about supporting staff to support students. She is also a vegan.

Friends International Chaplain

Ruth Farquar

Honorary Chaplain, Friends International
[email protected]

Ever since she studied in Dundee, Ruth has been connected with international students. She works for Friends International in Dundee and helps to organise events and outings for international students and their families that allow them to meet regularly and form links with the local community in and around the city.

Local faith contacts

Greek Orthodox

Very Rev. Archimandrite Auraamy Neyman
[email protected]
+44 (0)131 629 5966

Sikh place of worship

Sri Guru Nanak Gurdwara
+44 (0)1382 223383

Tayside Hindu Cultural and Community Centre

10 Taylor’s Lane, Dundee, DD2 1AQ

Mrs Naina Penman
+44 (0)7834236767
[email protected]

Mr Gopal Narayan
+44 (0)7806 256447

Tibetan Buddhist

Venerable Karma Jiga
+44 (0)1382 870020
Nilipul Foundation website