FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 04/10/2007

Bridgewater College Announces New Vice President And Dean

BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Bridgewater College President Phillip C. Stone has announced that Dr. Carol Scheppard, an associate professor of philosophy and religion, has been appointed to the position of vice president and dean for academic affairs, effective July 1.

Scheppard succeeds Dr. Arthur C. Hessler, who earlier this year announced his retirement on June 30. The College conducted a national search to fill the position.

"Dr. Scheppard not only had the enthusiastic endorsement of the search committee, but also strong support from the faculty and the other vice presidents," said Stone. "Because of my own high regard for Carol, I am personally delighted to have her become the College's chief academic officer. I know she will be a great colleague."

Scheppard grew up in Thomaston, Conn., and majored in anthropology and minored in history at Wesleyan University. After graduation, she spent 10 years as a teacher and administrator at Landmark School in Massachusettes, and Landmark College in Vermont, schools with curricula designed specifically for students with dyslexia.

Scheppard earned a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and received her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. During her doctoral studies, Scheppard was awarded several fellowships, including the School of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellowship and the Pennfield Scholarship in Diplomacy, International Affairs and Belles Lettres.

Scheppard joined the department of philosophy and religion at Bridgewater College in 1998, teaching such courses as History of the Christian Church, Medieval Women's Spirituality, History of Biblical Interpretation and Biblical Themes in Literature.

She was the 2002 recipient of the College's Ben and Janice Wade Outstanding Teaching Award.

Scheppard is a member of the board of trustees for Bethany Theological Seminary and is the current chair of the seminary's presidential search committee. An active member of Lebanon Church of the Brethren in Mt. Sidney, Va., she chairs its church board. She also is a councilwoman for the Town of Mt. Crawford and vice chair for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Municipal Planning Organization.

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