By Jaci Schneider, Opinion Editor

Four department chairs will leave their positions at the end of the semester.

Dr. David Wray, chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry; Dr. Robert McKelvain, chair of the Department of Psychology; Dr. Waymon Hinson, chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy; and Dr. David Hughes, chair of the Department of Math and Computer Science, will step down in order to pursue other interests.

McKelvain said he plans to take a faculty renewal leave next year and devote more time to scholarship and research.

“It’s time. I’ve done this, I think, for 12 years,” he said. “We have very capable people in this department who can provide leadership.”

Dr. Richard Beck will replace McKelvain as department chair next year, McKelvain said. Dr. Colleen Durrington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, selected Beck in consultation with the department.

“Dr. McKelvain has been a visionary leader who has worked well with both faculty and students,” Durrington said in an e-mail. “We will miss his leadership.”

Although McKelvain will spend much of his time in research next year, he also plans to teach two courses.

Through his research, McKelvain said he wants to understand more about how effective negotiation works.

“I haven’t had the time to devote to scholarship,” he said. “You can only do so many things at one time.”

Dr. David Wray will also have more time to give to his interests next year.

“It’s been nine years since I’ve been in this responsibility,” Wray said, “and I’ve developed additional interests.”

Wray said he has a passion for “missional church,” the concept that every Christian individual is a minister and a missionary, no matter their vocation.

He said he has been asked to do consulting for many congregations, which he wouldn’t have time to do as department chair.

Wray said he asked to step down last year, but Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, asked him to stay another year to make the transition smoother. A search group has been put together to decide on a new chair this spring.

“It’s been an incredible nine years doing this,” Wray said.

Also stepping down in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry is Dr. Waymon Hinson. He will leave his job as chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy and go on sabbatical next year to interview black farmers in the South who have filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“This will be a huge transition for us,” said Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, in an e-mail. “Dr. Wray and Dr. Hinson have been incredible leaders. They will be greatly missed, but I’m excited about what they will be doing as they transition back to full-time faculty.”

Hinson said his appointment was originally for only three years, but it turned into nine-and-a-half.

He said he wanted to make sure a strong faculty was in place before he resigned and wanted to be a part of the reaccreditation process. With both goals met, he said now is a good time to step down.

“I’m ready to shift my passion from administrative to other things,” he said. “I think I was born to be a teacher and a healer, but I wasn’t born to be an administrator; I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Dr. Jackie Halstead, professor of marriage and family therapy, will replace Hinson on June 1.

Dr. David Hughes will resign as chair of the Department of Math and Computer Science at the end of the semester as well.

“It’s my opinion that chairs should be replaced every six to nine years, and new people should be in the position,” Hughes said.

Next year, Dr. David Hendricks, professor of math and computer science, will take over the position.

Hughes, after eight years of serving as chair, will teach full time.

“There will certainly be a change,” he said.