Divinity school
Dean’s Award for Excellence
Dr. Lydia Huffman Hoyle
Associate Professor of Church History and Baptist Heritage
Dr. Lydia Huffman Hoyle, associate professor of church history and Baptist heritage, is the 2023 recipient of the Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award for the Campbell University Divinity School. Dr. Hoyle’s passion for the history of the church, her dedication to the Divinity School, and her ability to relate with both warmth and wit have led to deep admiration and appreciation not only from her students but also from her faculty and staff colleagues.
Although a veteran professor, Dr. Hoyle has consistently worked to refresh or update her lectures and class activities to engage students more readily and deeply with the important fields of Christian history, Christianity in America, Baptist history, and women in the Christian Tradition. When COVID-19 required a shift in teaching strategies, she labored long hours to adapt her courses for both synchronous and asynchronous online learning, doing so effectively.
Dr. Hoyle has been a leader in the Divinity School’s commitment to spiritual formation. She has been the prime mover behind spiritual retreat courses that are offered each semester, even when taught as an overload, and she takes the lead in the Senior Synthesis class that serves as a capstone for students. She has also served as the Faculty Supervisor for many Doctor of Ministry students.
In addition to her excellence in teaching and guiding students, Dr. Hoyle has worked tirelessly in support of both the Divinity School and the broader University through a heavy load of committee assignments. Among other things, she was instrumental in the development of the Divinity School’s successful Master of Arts in Faith and Leadership Formation degree. Her willingness to do needed research, her careful thought, and her considered wisdom have made her an asset to the entire university community.
Dr. Hoyle has been active in the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, The Baptist History and Heritage Society, and other professional organizations. She lives out her faith in various leadership roles at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. She is actively sought as a preacher and teacher in the church.
Dr. Hoyle is a native of Drexel, NC. She graduated from the University of North Carolina with a PhD and MA in Religious Studies; from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an MDiv; and from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Dr. Hoyle came to Campbell University Divinity School after serving as Associate Professor of Church History at Georgetown College for twelve years. She is married to Dr. Rick Hoyle, a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. They have three adult children and one grandchild.
It is with grateful appreciation that we recognize Dr. Lydia Hoyle for her steadfast and devoted efforts to Campbell University Divinity School and its students. We are proud to recognize her today, in truth not only for the 2023 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, but for a lifetime of excellence in teaching, leadership, and for her service to Campbell University Divinity School and its mission.
Dr. Andrew H. Wakefield
Dean and Professor, Campbell University Divinity School