Jeffrey Pugh, professor of religious studies, has been named a Maude Sharpe Powell Professor at Elon University. Details...
He is the third faculty member to hold the professorship, which was established in 1985 through a gift from the James B. Powell Foundation in honor of Dr. Powell’s mother. Pugh’s appointment was announced by President Leo M. Lambert at Fall Convocation, Sept. 19.
The Powell Professorships provide support for faculty scholarship and student mentorship, and may be awarded to a faculty member from any field of study. Pugh assumes the Maude Sharpe Powell Professorship previously held by philosophy faculty member John Sullivan, who retired last spring. A second Maude Sharpe Powell Professorship is held by Russell Gill, professor of English.
“Jeffrey Pugh is an exceptional teacher and scholar,” Provost Gerald Francis said. “His leadership at Elon University has made a difference in who we are today, in what we do, and in how we do it. He is most deserving of this recognition.”
Pugh has been a member of the Elon faculty since 1986. He has been recognized as one of the university’s best teachers, earning the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2000. He served as chair of the religious studies department from 1994 to 1998. Pugh has been active on faculty committees, serving as chair of the Promotions and Tenure committee and serving on the NewCentury@Elon strategic planning committee from 2000 to 2001. He was director of a Winter Term study program in Hawaii from 1996 to 2004 and directed the fall semester program in London in 1995.
Pugh is an active scholar who has written three books, including “Entertaining the Triune Mystery: God, Science and the Space Between” in 2003; “The Matrix of Faith: Reclaiming a Christian Vision” in 2001; and “The Anselmic Shift: Christology and Method in Karl Barth’s Theology” in 1990. He has made numerous presentations at professional meetings and conferences and written articles, book chapters and book reviews for various publications.
Pugh earned a master’s degree and doctoral degree from Drew University, a master’s of divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree from Ferrum College.