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MILLIGAN COLLEGE , TN (Jan. 18, 2005) — Thursday morning’s 11 a.m. chapel service will be a historic moment on Milligan’s campus, when the college installs two endowed faculty chairs. Dr. Craig Farmer will be named the Joel O. and Mabel Stephens Chair of Bible and Dennis Helsabeck, Jr. will be named the Henry and Emerald Webb Chair of History.
An endowed chair, explained Dr. Mark Matson, Milligan vice president for academic affairs and dean, is supported by an endowment provided by generous friends of the college. The income from the endowment fund provides the salary for the professor named to the position.
“Named chairs have a long and illustrious place in academia,” said Matson. “The appointment to a named chair signifies that a faculty member has achieved a special place in the college by virtue of academic accomplishments and teaching excellence. In every case, a named chair is an honor.”
Farmer is currently associate professor of history and humanities and has taught at Milligan since 1993. He holds a B.A. from Haverford College, an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. from Duke University. He served as visiting instructor of religion at North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1987-88 and visiting instructor of church history at Duke Divinity School before coming to Milligan in 1993. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the American Society of Church History, the Medieval Academy of America, and the Sixteenth Century Studies Conference. He recently received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Appalachian College Association to support his current research on the oath controversies of 16th century Europe.
He will be honored with the Stephens Chair of Bible, established through the generosity of Joel O. and Mabel Stephens of Tarpon Springs , Fla., in 1981. Mr. Stephens was the longtime president and chairman of the board of First Federal Savings and Loan of Tarpon Springs. Their grandson, Robert Mark Webb, graduated from Milligan in 1978.
“We believe in the aims of Milligan College. We are aware that through many years, thousands of young person have been influenced positively because they have studied at Milligan. Our family is happy to contribute to the future of Milligan’s fine program through the endowment of a chair of biblical instruction,” said Webb, whose daughter, Rachel, also graduated from Milligan in 2004.
Professor Earl Stuckenbruck was installed as the first holder of the Stephens chair in 1981, followed by W. C. Gwaltney, Jr. in 1985. Both have since retired and now serve as professor emeriti at Milligan.
Helsabeck will be named the Webb Chair of History, established through the generosity of Henry and Emerald Webb of Johnson City. Dr. Webb taught and was an area chair at Milligan from 1950 to 1990. During that time, Mrs. Webb served as secretary to the business manager and later as secretary to the librarian. The Webbs have led church ministries at several local congregations, including First Christian Church of Erwin and First Christian Church of Bluff City. Dr. Webb is a leading Christian church historian who is dedicated to promoting Christian unity by helping students, ministers and lay people understand the guiding principles of the Stone-Campbell church movement.
Helsabeck, who will be honored with the Webb Chair, is also recognized as a key historian in the Stone-Campbell Movement. He has taught at Milligan since 1989 and previously in the early 1980s. He holds a B.S. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.S. in education from Indiana University, an M.A. in history from the University of Oregon, and an M.A. in church history from Luther Seminary. Prior to teaching at Milligan, he taught at Northwest Christian College, Kenmore Christian College in Brisbane, Australia, and was director of high school relations for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a member of the American Society of Church History and the Disciples of Christ Historical Society.
“Milligan is committed to the tradition and importance of endowed chairs in recognizing and fostering academic excellence among its faculty,” said Matson.
Other faculty honored with endowed chairs at Milligan include Dr. R. David Roberts, who holds the Kenneth E. Starkey Chair of Bible and Christian Ministries; Dr. J. Lee Magness, who holds the Vera Britton Chair of Bible; and Dr. William B. Greer, who holds the J. Henry Kegley Chair of Business and Economics.
“We are grateful to the generous friends who have helped make these endowed chairs possible,” said Milligan President Donald R. Jeanes. “It is gifts like this that enable Milligan to provide an excellent academic program supported by outstanding faculty.”
The faculty chair installation ceremony will be held in Seeger Memorial Chapel and is open to the public.