The Kay Spiritual Life Center is a welcoming home for reflection, belonging, and connection at AU. Your Giving Day gift helps create inclusive spaces where students can explore their values, find community, and care for their whole selves. Together, we support students as they build purpose and show up for one another.
Our Mission
Kindle your heart – Ignite your purpose – Illuminate the world
Kay Spiritual Life Center holds space for everyone to feel welcome, present, and whole. As one of the oldest Interbelief centers in the nation, we continue to kindle hearts by exploring beliefs, values, and faith within a radically welcoming community of communities. We ignite purpose by connecting the intangible matters of heart and soul to academic exploration and the needs of the world. We help form caring and mindful servant leaders grounded in their own sense of meaning and prepare them to illuminate the world. We hope that every person in the American University community can do well and do good.
Our Values
Every Being has Immeasurable Worth.
Our Hearts Flourish in Community.
Everyone Impacts the World.
About Our Different Funds
- Kay Spiritual Life Center Fund: Supports the events, initiatives, and community programs that bring KSLC’s mission to life.
- KSLC Endowment: Ensures our facilities remain modern and welcoming spaces for prayer, meditation, and student reflection.
- AU Gospel Choir: Supports the programming and activities of our historic AU Gospel Choir as a musical community of support and celebration.
- Robert Bruce Poynter Endowment: Supports engaging programming that connects students’ beliefs with the world through lectures and service trips.
- Gary Spiegler Endowment: Supports vibrant Jewish programming and community-building initiatives.
- Dr. Karen Thornton Endowment: Empowers the Catholic community at AU through scholarships, retreats, and spiritual formation programming.
- AU Buddhists: Fosters spiritual growth and community building for our Buddhist students.
- AU Catholics: Supports liturgical practice, education, and community celebration for Catholic students at AU.
- AU Hindus: Supports the spiritual development and community celebrations of our Hindu students.
- AU Humanists: Promotes the celebration, education, and development of our Humanist community.
- AU Methodists: Supports the unique traditions, history, and programming of our United Methodist community.
- KSLC Ramadan Fund: Provides essential support and community resources for Muslim students during the sacred month of Ramadan.