Deanna A. Thompson, a religion professor who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the age of 42, will present the annual Morningside College Wright Lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at Grace United Methodist Church.

Deanna A. Thompson, a religion professor who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the age of 42, will present the annual Morningside College Wright Lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at Grace United Methodist Church, 1735 Morningside Ave.

The title of her lecture is “Hoping for More: Talking Faith in the Toughest of Times.” Thompson also will give an informal presentation at Morningside at noon Oct. 9 in the Maud Adams Room in the Olsen Student Center, 3609 Peters Ave. Both events are free and open to the public.

Thompson is a professor of religion at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., where she has received awards for her teaching and scholarship from students, faculty and staff.  The author of three books, Thompson’s work has also appeared in the Huffington Post, the Christian Century, and numerous other print and online publications. Since the publication in 2012 of “Hoping for More: Having Cancer, Talking Faith, and Accepting Grace,” Thompson speaks widely on the intersection of religion and meaning-making during the hardest times in our lives.

Thompson has a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.; a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, Conn.; and a doctorate in theology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.