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Professor Emerita B.J. Seymour, Ph.D. |
Randolph-Macon College President Robert R. Lindgren is pleased to announce that Professor Emerita B.J. Seymour, Ph.D., has received a Doctor of Humanities Degree. Lindgren and former dean of students and religious study professor, Dr. Ira Andrews conferred the degree at a private ceremony on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.
“Professor Seymour is a gifted scholar whose legacy at Randolph-Macon College is unparalleled,” said Lindgren. “She is truly a trailblazer whose life and scholarly work have inspired generations of students and enriched the lives of countless colleagues and friends. Professor Seymour’s appointment as the college’s first full-time female faculty member is a distinction we are proud to celebrate, and her dedication to Randolph-Macon is beyond compare.”
In 1971, R-MC officially became coeducational and Seymour, who taught religious studies, became the first full-time female faculty member of the college. She was also the first woman at R-MC to attain tenure, chair a department and be granted the rank of full professor.
Seymour played a vital role in the campus community. From 1971-73 she served as assistant dean of students. From 1975-77 she was the acting chair of the Department of Religious Studies, and in 1977 she became chair of the department. She was a member of numerous search committees; a member of the Committee on the Faculty; a member of the Athletic Council; an academic advisor and a member of the Women’s Studies Council. In addition, Seymour was very involved with the River Road Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, where she served on the Board of Christian Education and the Board of Administration.
During her tenure at Randolph-Macon College, Seymour received numerous awards. In 1975, 1984 and 1993 she received the Thomas Branch Award for Excellence in Teaching from Randolph-Macon College. In 1993 she received the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Professor Award, given annually to an outstanding member of the R-MC faculty or administration. In 2003, Seymour received the prestigious Randolph-Macon College Faculty Service of Appreciation Award and the Exemplary Teaching Award from the General Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry of the United Methodist Church.
Seymour’s professional association memberships included the American Academy of Religion, the American Association of University Women, the Virginia Women’s Studies Association and the Virginia Association of Teachers of Religion, where she served as vice-president from 1978-79 and president from 1979-81. In addition, Seymour is the author of many publications, including
Feminism Revisited: A Brief Overview and
The Shaping Power of Language: Images of God and Person. In 2004, R-MC established the annual B.J. Seymour Alumna Award, which honors alumnae of the college who have consistently worked on behalf of issues important to women and/or girls, and who demonstrate vitality, integrity and leadership. The award carries an honorarium.
Seymour earned her bachelor’s degree at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, her M.R.E. at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, her master’s degree from the University of Richmond and her Ph.D. at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She retired in 2003 after 32 years of service to Randolph-Macon College.
Randolph-Macon College’s Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Frank E. Brown Fountain Plaza.