Dr. Adam English, chair of the Department of Christian Studies and professor of Christian theology and philosophy at Campbell University, was selected for the D.P. Russ Jr. and Walter S. Jones Sr. Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence for the 2023-2024 academic year.
The award stands as the pinnacle of faculty commendation for teaching excellence and innovation at Campbell. To be considered for this award, one must be nominated by fellow colleagues and then selected by the Faculty Teaching Committee.
English was nominated for this award because of his passion and excellence in teaching. He frequently refers to teaching as his calling and has said it is important for the students in his courses to be “co-creators of knowledge.” This focus makes each course, even the ones he has taught multiple times, unique to each class of students.
Students have lauded his ability to be “warm and enthusiastic” while teaching 8 a.m. classes, noting also that English is inclusive and welcoming towards all students. Knowing the importance of continued improvement and growth, English consistently collaborates with colleagues both in and out of the College of Arts & Sciences to learn new pedagogical skills.
In addition to his standard classes, English has consistently worked to the benefit of the students Christian Studies Department in many ways, including developing a new course (PHIL 225 Debating Ethics), organizing the Ethics Bowl team and initiating a study abroad program to Italy.
Originally from Texas, English came to Campbell University in 2003. He teaches courses in the fields of theology, philosophy and ethics, and he became Chair of the Department of Christian Studies in 2015. He has served as interim pastor in several eastern North Carolina churches.
English has contributed to a variety of journals and periodicals, including “Golden Rule Ethics Applied to Relational Models,” Perspectives in Religious Studies (Fall 2023), “Making Theological Progress with David Deutsch’s Theory of Explanations,” Theology & Science (June 2022), and “St Nicholas to Santa Claus,” The Oxford Handbook of Christmas, Oxford University Press (2020).
He is the author of “Christmas: Theological Anticipations,” Cascade (2016); “The Saint Who Would be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of St. Nicholas of Myra,” Baylor University Press (2012); “Theology Remixed: Christianity as Story, Game, Language, Culture,” Intervarsity Press (2010); “The Possibility of Christian Philosophy: Maurice Blondel at the Intersection of Philosophy and Theology,” Routledge (2007); and co-author of “Pocket History of Theology,” Intervarsity Press (2005).
English’s research interests include constructive theology and the history of theological ideas.