Conrad Grebel University College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Trevor Bechtel to the role of Dean, effective July 1, 2014. He succeeds Jim Pankratz who has served as Dean for 9 years and will be retiring in June.
Marlene Epp, Professor of History and former dean of the College reflected on this hire. “As a faculty member at Grebel, I am excited by the leadership attitudes of 'beauty, laughter, and relationality' that Trevor Bechtel will bring to the College. His collaborative and conversational approach to administration is well matched by his engagement with new technologies and the creative arts in his own teaching and research.”
"Trevor brings strong leadership gifts in mentoring faculty, modeling teaching excellence, relating to students, and has a track record of reinvigorating the humanities as relevant fields of study for young people today. This is an extraordinary combination of gifts," said Huxman.
Dr. Bechtel's research program is in the cutting edge area of theology and creation care. His forthcoming publications include: How to Eat your Bible: Performance for Mennonite bodies (Herald Press); The Gift of Ethics: Receiving the promise of Jesus in the Beatitudes (Cascade Books); and an edited book with Gerald Mast, Anabaptist Convictions after Marpeck." (Wipf & Stock). He has also produced several compact discs, including Of Every Creature, by the Anabaptist Bestiary Project, 2013.
Theological Studies graduate student, Max Kennel, is looking forward to connecting with Bechtel as Dean. "Trevor has a real heart for students, and whether he is talking with undergraduates or graduates he shows that he is interested, and that he cares about both student life and academic pursuits."
As the College’s first Dean who is also an alumnus, Bechtel remarked, “I have always thought that Grebel truly offers students the best of both worlds and I couldn’t be more excited to return to Kitchener-Waterloo to work alongside Grebel's faculty, staff and students as we imagine together this next 50 years of faithful scholarship in the Mennonite tradition. I am humbled by the opportunity to encourage the next generation of faithful and cutting edge scholarship.”
Professor Bechtel is also an ordained Minister in Mennonite Church USA at Chicago Community Mennonite Church and preaches regularly in the congregations that form Bluffton's constituency. He is involved weekly in the university's chapel program. “As an ordained theologian, he is deeply committed to the church and the academy,” explained Conrad Grebel Board Chair, Fred Redekop. “This is important to the College as it nurtures leadership for the Church and its future. With his inquisitive mind, Dr. Bechtel will continue in a long line of Deans of the College who have been committed to faith and learning.”
Founded in 1963 by Ontario Mennonites, Conrad Grebel University College is a Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the University of Waterloo. The College’s mission is “to seek wisdom, nurture faith and pursue justice and peace in service to church and society.” Grebel has course enrolments of over 4,000 and regularly fills its residential student services program to capacity (over 300). Grebel also fulfills its mission through strong graduate programs in both Theological Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies.
photo credit: Bluffton University