Brodhead Names Search Committee for University Minister
The search committee expects to make its recommendations to the university president before the end of the academic year
Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead has appointed an 11-member committee to search for the next university minister.
The Rev. Charles M. Smith, a member of the Duke Board of Trustees since 1998, will chair the search committee. A 1962 Duke graduate who earned his M.Div. at Duke Divinity School in 1965, Smith is director of connectional ministries for the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church in Raleigh.
William H. Willimon stepped down from the Duke position on Aug. 31 to assume leadership of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church as a newly elected bishop. Willimon became university minister in 1984 and was named dean of Duke Chapel and professor of Christian ministry five years later. Craig Kocher, assistant dean of the chapel and director of religious life, will serve as acting dean until the search is complete.
Smith said the committee will begin the national search for Willimon's successor later this month. The committee expects to make its recommendations to Brodhead before the end of the academic year.
"The university minister plays an important role in connecting the academic and spiritual lives of Duke University's students, faculty and staff," Smith said. "In addition to planned worship, counseling and preaching, the minister coordinates a wide array of activities in Duke Chapel, one of the most active and diverse university churches in the country. We expect there will be a number of highly qualified candidates for this important position."
Joining Smith on the committee are:
- Zoila Airall, assistant vice president for campus life
- David Evans, School of Medicine, Class of 2006
- Augustus Grant, M.D., professor of medicine, member of the Congregation at Duke Chapel
- Janet Gwyer, clinical professor, Duke's graduate program in physical and occupational therapy, member of the Congregation at Duke Chapel and Friends of the Chapel
- Judith Hays, division chief, Duke's Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing Program, member of the Congregation at Duke Chapel
- L. Gregory Jones, dean of Duke Divinity School
- Charles King, member of the Congregation at Duke Chapel
- Elizabeth Kiss, director, Kenan Institute for Ethics
- Sally Robinson, trustee emerita
- Alice Williamson, undergraduate, Class of 2005
N. Allison Haltom, vice president and university secretary, and Ira Mueller, assistant to the university secretary, will assist with the search.