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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/28/05
Greenville College Welcomes Dr. Christina Smerick
New Faculty Member Fills Shapiro Chair of Jewish-Christian Studies
GREENVILLE,
ILL. – Greenville College announces the arrival of Dr. Christina
Smerick, the Shapiro Chair of Jewish-Christian Studies and Assistant
Professor of Philosophy. After instructing at Saint Xavier University
in Chicago, Smerick comes to Greenville with a passion for Jewish
studies. Holding Bachelor, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in
Philosophy, Smerick will also be a full-time professor for the
Department of Religion and Philosophy.
Christina
Smerick grew up in Virginia before traveling to Nashville, TN to attend
undergraduate school at Trevecca Nazarene University. While at
Trevecca, Smerick began developing an interest in Jewish authors such
as Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas. Graduating summa cum laude in
1995 with a degree in Philosophy, Smerick then moved to Chicago where
she began graduate work at DePaul University. There she obtained her
Masters (1998) and her Doctorate (2003) degrees in Philosophy.
“It is crucial, especially in protestant colleges that we examine the roots of our faith more carefully,” said Smerick.
Although
her formal education has led to advanced degrees in Philosophy, Smerick
has taken it upon herself to become a scholar of Judaism. Her doctoral
dissertation centered on the intersection of Jewish theology and
philosophy and the early writings of the German-Jewish scholar Walter
Benjamin. Smerick not only believes in the purpose of a Christian
college, she also believes in the value of Jewish studies.
“I
absolutely, passionately believe in this program. A Protestant college
that has an undergraduate Jewish-Christian studies program is
cutting-edge,” said Smerick.
Christina Smerick is
also the Shapiro Chair of Jewish-Christian Studies, the position
formerly held by Dr. Karen Strand Winslow. With this position, Smerick
will promote Jewish studies through programming as well as classes. She
is planning events such as a Yom Kippur service, Passover Seder, visits
to the Holocaust museum and temple in St.Louis, and various Jewish film
nights.
This 5 year-old position of Shapiro
Chair was created in collaboration with the Shapiro Foundation in
Chicago. Greenville College has a long-standing relationship with the
Shapiro Family that began with the tradition of the college's annual
Chicago Trip. The Shapiro Foundation as also given the college a
matching grant for which Smerick will continue to raise funds.
Greenville
College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with
more than 1300 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree
completion students. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free
Methodist Church, the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45
miles east of St. Louis.
CONTACT:
Christy Grimes (
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Assistant Director of Public Relations
Greenville College
(618) 664-6515
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