ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE:

              Serve as Coordinator of the Department of Religious Studies at VWC

Since becoming coordinator in 1994, I have developed a comprehensive filing system, an overall plan for using departmental resources, and a number of written policies (e.g., descriptions of departmental goals; form letters for prospective students; descriptions of the department for Admissions Officers).  I also turned the Religious Studies homepage into a “teaching” site (one which students refer to regularly), and in 2001 and 2006 I compiled the data for, and wrote, our departmental five-year review.

              Consult regularly:

I feel fortunate to be at a college that serves as a resource in Hampton Roads. Most months I receive 15 calls from ministers, reporters, workshop leaders, teachers, church deacons, and others.  The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom has helped draw attention to the college and to the Religious Studies Department.  The Center has created an interest in the study of religion, and much of that interest in religion is in world religions and the Bible (both of which are my specialties).

              Work in church leadership roles: 

Currently I serve as Pastor at Squires Memorial Presbyterian Church, Norfolk (since Dec. 2005).  That church is a small community whose primary pastoral needs are in preaching and leadership.  I preach each week, lead session meetings, teach regularly, and make some visitations.  This has been a wonderful experience. Preaching is personal.  Preaching to a small congregation—generally 45-50—means that I cannot hide behind a text or a pulpit.  My teaching has benefited so much—and I think has become increasingly personal—through this experience.

From 1995-2005 I served as Parish Associate Minister at Second Presbyterian Church (Norfolk), where I preached regularly, taught frequently, and served on a variety of committees.  From May to August 2000, I served as Interim Pastor (head of staff), while Steve Frazier was on sabbatical.  I served as the primary administrator, ran committees, visited homes and hospitals, and preached weekly.

              Served at the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom:

From November 2003 through December 2004 I formally served as Interim Director for the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom.  Because Catharine Cookson, as Director, had to do most of her work from home, I represented her at meetings, spoke on her behalf, contacted speakers for various events, and completed a variety of types of administrative tasks.  During this time, through a variety of new partnerships and collaborations and through solid advice from Catharine, the CSRF had all-time high levels of campus and community involvement.

Because Catharine repeatedly discussed the importance of mediation training on her own perception, I used continuing education funds from my Batten Professorship so that I could take a 21-hour course in “Conflict Management and Mediation Training” (through the Tidewater Mediation Center, December 8-10, 2004).  In addition to seeing how I can use those skills in various aspects of my own professional and personal life, I understand much better why Catharine saw mediation training as an important part of the religious

freedom certificate program.

              Organized and administered various faculty lecture series (none of which

              involved any budget):

              1) "Life Matters" (Fall, 1994, Spring 1995, Fall 1995, Spring 1996, Spring 1997);

              2) "Symposium on Religious Freedom" (Spring 1997; met weekly);

              3) "18th/19th Century Theology" (Fall 1997; met four times);

              4) "'A Community of Scholars':  Faculty Research at Wesleyan" (Fall 1997, Spring1998, Fall 1998; met

                        four  times each semester);

              5) "Key Figures in Historical Theology" (Spring, 1998; met four times).

              6) “Construction of Identity” (Fall 2000; met three times, with each lecture having

                            over 80 persons in attendance)

              7) “Judaism and Culture” (Fall 2000; met three times, with each lecture, again,                                          

                             having over 80 persons in attendance)

              8) “9/11:  American One Year Later” (with Tom Fanney and Dan Margolies,

                            Sept. 11, 2002; a symposium and a series of five lectures.  Although the                                           symposium at the end of the day had the fewest number of attendees, each                                           of the lectures had between 80 and 160 persons in attendance.)

              9) Wesley Lecture Series (in celebration of the birth of John Wesley; Spring                                           2003; met three times, with each lecture having over 80 persons in                                                         attendance).

              10) In addition, I have organized a series of individual lectures (e.g., in Spring                                           2003, I have scheduled a panel discussion of The DaVinci Code with                                           Joyce Howell, Clay Drees, and me).

              Each of these series has been very successful and, I think, very inspirational. With               no budget or administrative help backing them, these series supported faculty,

              brought faculty together, and provided very               engaging programming for students               and the community.  Through these events, I also came to recognize important               methods and techniques of promotion.

              Chair and Serve on Numerous Commissions and Committees at VWC

              --Advancement and Tenure Committee (2004-present)

              --Faculty Standards and Welfare Commission (2003-present; 1996-1998; chair, 1997-98)

              --Educational Policies Commission (2000-2002)

              --Educational Policies Commission (1995-1996; co-chair, 1995-96)

              --Academic Policy and Curriculum Committee (1994-1995; chair, Spring 1995)

              --Honor Council (chair, 2000-present, alternate, 1999-2000 [interim chair, Fall 1999])

              --Committee on Academic Computing (CAC) (1998-2003).

              --Community Service Advisory Council (2002-2004)

              --Winter Session Committee (2001-present)

              --Portfolio Committee (1996-present)

              --New Faculty Workshop Committee (to orient new faculty members, 1997- present).

              --Honors and Scholars Committee (1996-2002).

              --Pre-Health Committee (the committee that screens and evaluates VWC’s medical school applicants).

              Successfully write grants:

I enjoy writing grant applications both because they help me focus my ideas and vision, and because I have had good success.  During the last five years I have received competitive grants from the Council of Independent Colleges, the American Council of Learned Societies, and Harvard University’s Pluralism Project.  During that same time I also received a $5000 Service Learning Grant that was for other VWC professors (through the Ruth Jacobs Trust).