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The Dean's Report

Every year, the coming of spring occasions significant changes in the world around us. That is once again true here at Walla Walla. On my mind this spring are not just the changes in the world around us, but changes in the School of Theology, several of which I am constrained to write about.

First, Doug Clark, who has been here at Walla Walla College for 17 years and who served as Dean for 8 of those years, will be leaving as of July 1. Doug has accepted the invitation of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) to become its Executive Director. This necessitates a move across country for the Clarks, as ASOR headquarters are located in Boston, Massachusetts. Doug leaves behind a significant record of accomplishments here at the School of Theology. He has been active in the production of PROBE, the School of Theology production of the Sabbath School lesson for radio broadcast; he has, almost single-handedly, brought the archaeological lab onto campus; he was a founder of the Institute for Bible Church and Culture (IBCC), the organization through which faculty make presentations in various parts of the area we serve; he has been the main producer of the School’s newsletter; and he has facilitated the Adventist Colleges Abroad summer biblical languages program. Besides this, he has helped lead the Madaba Plains archaeological digs every other summer. Doug has also been very attentive of the academic component of the curriculum here, and has worked hard to make sure the level remains high. He has written many articles and has gone out to make numerous presentations. Doug has, over the years, proved himself to be an Academic of the highest order. While we are sorry to see him leave, those of us who know him realize that the invitation to go to work for ASOR puts him right in the middle of the archeological world, which is the field of his greatest love. We thank him for his service here, and we wish him every blessing as he and Carmen go east.

Another change that has taken place is the arrival of a new faculty member by the name of Aileen Bauer. Aileen and her husband, Carl, have come to us from the Napa Valley where they have lived and worked for many years. Aileen has been a nurse, a wife and mother, a leading elder in the St. Helena SDA Church, as well as a teacher of religion at Pacific Union College. She has come to teach full-time for the School of Theology, helping with the teaching of the generalrequirement religion classes of which there are so many. We are very grateful she has accepted our invitation to come and work with us, finishing out this school year,and then staying on to teachnext year, as well.

A third person for me to mention is Kent Bramlett (WWC, 1994), a doctoral student in archaeology at the University of Toronto. Kent has come on a contract basis to take up the classes left vacant as Doug Clark goes through the transition of a move to the east coast. Kent is still working on his dissertation, so has been teaching half-time, but we are grateful he has been able to join us.

We are also very happy to have signed Susan Bungard on as the part-time IBCC teacher for next year. Susan has been working in various capacities around Walla Walla, including the Spiritual Life Center, for several years and teaching in the now defunct ESL program. She joins us part-time.

Those of you who follow the comings and goings of faculty here can see the changes I have mentioned above are very significant.

Over the last six years or so, there have been many changes here. Faculty represent the heart of any academic organization, in my opinion, and those of us who are currently here recognize the record others have left and we are pledged to continue to work toward making the Walla Walla College School of Theology the very best it can be. We appreciate your interest, your good will, your prayers, and your contributions.

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