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The Path to Your Purpose
PRYOR NAMED VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS
Jun 18, 2020
LINDSBORG, KAN., June 18, 2020 – Dr. Adam Pryor, Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Religion has been promoted to the role of Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.
Dr. Pryor started working at Bethany College in 2013 as an Assistant Professor in the Religion Department. He previously supervised the Center of Discovery, Reflection, and Vocation from 2014-2017, served as the Director of CORE Education from 2017-2019, and started as the Dean of Academic Affairs for Student Success in 2019. Throughout his time at Bethany College, he has also been an active researcher serving in various capacities as a member of the American Academy of Religion and the North American Paul Tillich Society.
“I am so happy that Dr. Pryor has agreed to join my leadership team. Over the past two years, I have appreciated his dedication to our students and to Bethany,” said Interim President Elizabeth Mauch.
Dr. Pryor is “excited to experience how working in both academic and student affairs can create new relationships across campus.” He looks forward to intentional collaboration with colleagues across campus about how best to connect student co-curricular activities with what goes on in the classroom. Dr. Pryor will continue teaching as an Associate Professor of Religion.
Dr. Pryor resides in Lindsborg with his wife Rachael, who is an ordained minister, and their three children. He and his family are members of Andover Lutheran Church where Rachael currently serves as the pastor.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Bethany College conferred degrees upon 99 students in Presser Hall Auditorium on April 27, 2024. The ceremony honored students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education from the college during the 2023-2024 academic year. Summer, fall, and spring graduates were honored during a Baccalaureate worship service at 10:30 a.m. in Presser Hall, followed by Commencement at 2 p.m. Campus Pastor Melissa Woeppel led the Baccalaureate Service, and Rev. Lamont Wells, Executive Director of the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Co llege and Universities (NECU). Gracelyn Gaskill '24, a chemistry and music major from Lindsborg, Kansas, provided special music for Commencement. Senior class speakers Inioluwa "Enoch" Ojo '24, a biology major from Katy, Texas, and Benjamin "Ben" Turner '24, a History and Political Science Major from Peyton, Colorado, gave thoughtful remarks on their time at Bethany College, taking time to thank their friends, faculty, and coaches. Dr. Brent Mai '85, Dean of University Libraries at Wichita State University, gave the commencement address, encouraging this year's graduates to go out into the world and exercise the four tenets of stoicism: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
Interim President Steve Eckman commended the efforts of the faculty and staff in securing the grant, stating, "We are immensely grateful to the McPherson County Community Foundation for their incredible generosity. This grant will benefit our students and enrich the educational experiences available in the Smoky Valley community."
The newly appointed Presidential Search Committee will commence their work immediately, aiming to recommend a candidate for Bethany College's 16th president to the board by the April 2025 board meeting.