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Friday, May 10, 2002 Texas Christian University's C. David Grant Named Winner of 2002 T.A. Abbott Award for Faculty Excellence
The recipient of this award is affirmed by his or her institution as a professor who inspires students toward excellence, continues to grow, and learn in his or her academic discipline and practices a personal faith. The DHE Board of Directors bestowed the award to Grant at its board meeting April 12-14 in St. Louis, Mo. Grant will receive $1,000 to be used for expanding his library, developing new courses, or continuing education and research. Among the classes Grant teaches are Issues in Contemporary Theology, Philosophy of Religion, God in Modern Thought, and Religion and Science. He served as director of TCU's honors program from 1988-1994. In 1995, honors students selected Grant to receive the prestigious Honors Program Faculty Recognition Award, noting an "unwavering commitment to his ideals, expressed in everything he does, which makes him truly accountable to students." Last year, the faculty of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences nominated him for the Dean's Teaching Award. He has served on several of the Religion Department's search committees and has served as the department's coordinator of advising since 1995. He is also the department's webmaster. In recommending Grant for the award, TCU religion major Joe Blosser noted Grant's influence on his education. "As many religion majors will testify, it is difficult to study religion and remain religious, but one of Dr. Grant's biggest impacts on my life has been his ability to both study religion seriously and maintain an active faith and church life. He has mentored me through several faith crises by helping me understand how this theological study applies to daily life." A Texas native, Grant earned his bachelor's degree at Austin College. He earned master's degrees from Harvard University and Southern Methodist University. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1981. A member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, Grant has been a member of the TCU faculty since 1981. He and his wife, Debbie, have three children. The T.A. Abbott Award, presented now for the 19th consecutive year, was established through a gift to the Division of Higher Education from the descendants of the Reverend T. A. Abbott, a student and later a trustee at Christian University (now Culver-Stockton College). In the 1880's and early 1890's, Abbott pastored local congregations in Missouri, and from 1886 to 1910, he was the corresponding secretary of the Missouri Christian Missionary Society. He died in 1914. Nominees for the T.A. Abbott Award must be full-time teaching faculty at Disciples-related institutions of higher education. Criteria for selection include quality of teaching, personal example and commitment to the integration of Christian faith and learning. Grant is the fifth TCU faculty member to receive the award. Previous winners were Dr. Anantha S. Babbili, 1998; Dr. Mildred Onelle Hogstel, 1994; Dr. Bob J. Frye, 1993; and Dr. Kenneth T. Lawrence, 1987. The purpose of the Division of Higher Education is to nurture men and women, both lay and clergy, for transformational leadership in the church and the wider human community through the church's institutions of higher education. Fourteen universities and seven theological institutions in 12 states are in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), serving more than 24,400 students. In addition, three schools and three theological institutions maintain historical or associate ties with the denomination. DHE is affiliated with more than 80 campus ministries programs across the country. DHE also works with congregations and individuals to distribute scholarships to worthy Disciples students. Including cooperative efforts, DHE helped distribute almost $219,000 in scholarships in 2001.
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Texas Christian University religion professor Dr. C. David Grant has been recognized as the recipient of the 2002 T.A. Abbott Award for Faculty Excellence from the Division of Higher Education. The award is the most prestigious recognition that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) gives to members of faculties of Disciples-related colleges and universities.