Duke Chapel's Craig Kocher to Become University of Richmond's Chaplain

The Rev. Craig T. Kocher, associate dean of the Duke Chapel and the university's director of religious life, will become the University of Richmond's next chaplain, beginning Aug. 17. He also will hold the Jessie Ball DuPont Chair of the Chaplaincy at Richmond.

Kocher has served six years on the Duke Chapel staff, first as assistant dean, then as associate dean of the chapel.

"Serving at Duke Chapel has been a high honor. I have had six rich years at Duke, and leave with deep gratitude for friends and colleagues who have made my time on campus so rewarding," Kocher said. "The position at the University of Richmond builds on my experiences at Duke and provides areas for creative leadership in worship, interfaith programming, civic engagement and vocational exploration."

At Duke, Kocher contributed to the life of the chapel by preaching, leading worship, participating in mission trips and pastoring students and congregants. He also directed the chapel's religious life program, which included facilitating interfaith relations. During the 2004-05 year, he was acting dean of the chapel.

"Craig brings to the University of Richmond immense gifts in relating to students, leading institutions and helping people form and practice faith," Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells said. "Most of all he brings experience and vision in how we are all to imagine the interaction of faith and intellect in a college setting in the generation to come. We will miss Craig enormously at Duke Chapel, for precisely the reasons Richmond is so eager to have him."

Kocher is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and an ordained Methodist minister. He is married to the Rev. Abby Kocher, the chapel's community minister. She plans to continue in that role at Duke through the fall semester.