Prof. Shively T. J. Smith appointed Inaugural Director of PhD Program
The Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor of New Testament Shively T. J. Smith will serve as the inaugural director of the School’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program, effective July 1, 2023. In this new role, Prof. Smith will work closely with Associate Dean Bryan Stone and the Office of Academic Affairs, and she will also liaise with the Advanced Studies Committee and the leaders of the PhD Student Association. This operational change seeks to strengthen the professional formation of BUSTH’s PhD students.
“The appointment of Prof. Smith to this new role is a major step forward for the School’s PhD program and its mission of forming the next generation of innovative teachers, cutting edge researchers, and socially engaged thought leaders,” says Associate Dean Stone. “Prof. Smith brings vision, creativity, and a love for theological education that is precisely what we need in this moment.”
The director of the PhD program will guide student and program assessment, PhD admissions and orientation, and communicate with PhD students about program requirements and changes. As she begins her work in this role, Prof. Smith will initially focus on teacher training dimensions of the PhD program, and will soon provide advisor assignments to incoming scholars.
“I am excited to serve the STH community as [the] inaugural director of the PhD program,” says Prof. Smith. “Working to deepen and extend our program’s formative impact on students requires collaboration intent on deep listening, responsive experimentation, imaginative visioning, and ongoing evaluation. I look forward to partnering with [BU]STH’s doctoral students, faculty, and staff to extend our program’s global legacy in ways attentive to the professional currents awaiting our students after earning a Boston University School of Theology PhD.”