UNION News

Dr. Beth Bidlack Joins Union Theological Seminary as Associate Academic Dean

Categories: Union News

Dr. Beth Bidlack Joins Union Theological Seminary as Associate Academic Dean 

Union Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of Beth Bidlack as its new Associate Academic Dean. In this role, Beth will work closely with Mary C. Boys, the Dean of Academic Affairs, in the leadership and administration of the Academic Office. Beth’s work will include leading innovation in curricular and co-curricular programming; assessment of student learning; curricular design and development; the development and implementation of academic policies; and the academic oversight of students. Some of her specific projects will include coordinating Union’s self-studies for re-accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and Middle States Commission on Higher Education; teaching a seminar to support M.A. and M.Div. students who are writing theses; and building relationships with outside agencies to explore new academic offerings. Beth is eager to engage with the Union community in her new role.

“Having worked closely with Beth since I became Dean, I am thrilled that she has accepted position of Associate Dean. As Director of the Burke Library, she has proven a great friend to the Academic Office, and we are blessed she has chosen to join us in our daily work. Beth offers continuity in excellence, following the stellar contributions of Therese De Lisio, who leaves in early June to become Academic Dean at Bexley-Seabury Seminary,” said Dean Boys.

Since February of 2013, Beth has served as the Director of the Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary and has served on Union’s Academic Affairs Committee, Assessment Committee, and Self-Study Steering Committee. She has years of administrative experience and has been a librarian at Dartmouth College, the University of Chicago, Bangor Theological Seminary, Episcopal Divinity School/Weston Jesuit Library, Andover Newton Theological School, and Boston University School of Theology. She has taught biblical languages and literature at Boston University School of Theology, Episcopal Divinity School, Bangor Theological Seminary, Merrimack College, and Emmanuel College. She has a BA in religion and philosophy from Urbana University, an MTS and a PhD from Boston University, and an MS in library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have joining the academic administrative team at Union someone with the depth of background and keenness of insight as Beth Bidlack,” said Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary. “I’ve enjoyed working with her over the past three years as the Director of Burke Library and am excited to have her playing a central role in the academic office of UTS. We are lucky and thrilled.”

Beth will join the Academic Office on August 1.

###

GET THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS IN YOUR INBOX! Register Here