The Emerging Scholars Network provides encouragement, vision, and connections that are vital to Christian students and faculty. In isolation, we wither; in community, we flourish. — David A. Vosburg, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College
As we continue to await the coming of the Christ-child in these hopeful days of Advent, we are reminded of our call towards generosity in this season of gifts. InterVarsity’s Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) could not exist without the generous efforts of its members and donors. If you have found yourself encouraged, challenged, and closer to Christ through the labors of ESN this year, please consider contributing an end-of-the-year gift today! [1]
Day by Day by His grace,
Thomas B. Grosh IV, Associate Director, Emerging Scholars Network
PS. A taste of how ESN will begin 2014 . . .
- 1/8/2014: Launch of a Science & Faith ESN blog series by Tom Ingebritsen, a retired Iowa State University biology professor and part-time staff person with InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries.
- Tom Ingebritsen‘s series will complement Andy Walsh‘s weekly science post on ESN’s Facebook Wall (Wednesday lunch) and the monthly Science in Review (last Wednesday of the month). Teaser: Today’s blog begins a series about the relationship between science and Christian faith. I want to begin by addressing why I’m interested in this topic. I became a Christian in the middle of my academic career as a biology professor at Iowa State University. As I was coming to faith and afterwards I felt tension between my new faith and my knowledge of science. Was it really possible to believe in God in a modern scientific world?
- The Science & Faith ESN blog series will offer a glimpse of the next step in the reshaping of the blog through an expanding writing team which will address focused topics in higher ed. If you are interested in learning more, possibly joining the team, recommending additional contributors, and/or form a “local hub” of campus contributors, please email me.
- 1/9/2014: Faculty Day Program (St. Louis). In partnership with InterVarsity’s Faculty Ministry, all the members of the Emerging Scholars Network (no matter their academic stage) are welcome to participate in a Faculty Day Program on Thursday, January 9 in St. Louis. I look forward to the opportunity to hangout with a mix of Faculty and Emerging Scholars as part of a program integrated with InterVarsity’s National Staff Conference.
- If you are interested in learning more, please email me.
- Note: You are welcome to invite peers and those with whom you are in mentoring relationships.
- 3/1/2014:Â The Midwest Faculty Symposium on The End of the University? will be offered on multiple campus sites. The featured presenter will be President Santa J. Ono, PhD, University of Cincinnati. Click here to learn more.
- ESN’s March Madness ’14 is in development. Among my personal “confessions” is that I am in no way trying to repeat and/or top last year’s incredible Best Christian Book of All Time. Yes, something different is in the works 🙂
- An ESN survey in order to glean your feedback, impressions, and ways you may desire to become more involved will be posted/emailed in the spring. We value your opinions and are here to serve you by helping to navigate the shifting sands of academia. Those who complete the survey will have the opportunity to enter into a drawing for book prizes from InterVarsity Press. Now that’s a good deal!
Notes
- For more extensive material on investing in and partnering with the Emerging Scholars Network, visit the donate page on our website. And if you have a story you desire to share with us and/or a desire to bless other Emerging Scholars in some manner (e.g., book reviews, conferencing, creating a local ESN “hub” — local or virtual, mentoring, recommending resource people/material, writing, etc), please email me.  ↩
About the author:
Tom enjoys daily conversations regarding living out the Biblical Story with his wife Theresa and their four girls, around the block, at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church (where he teaches adult electives and co-leads a small group), among healthcare professionals as the Northeast Regional Director for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), and in higher ed as a volunteer with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). For a number of years, the Christian Medical Society / CMDA at Penn State College of Medicine was the hub of his ministry with CMDA. Note: Tom served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA for 20+ years, including 6+ years as the Associate Director of ESN. He has written for the ESN blog from its launch in August 2008. He has studied Biology (B.S.), Higher Education (M.A.), Spiritual Direction (Certificate), Spiritual Formation (M.A.R.), Ministry to Emerging Generations (D.Min.). To God be the glory!