Elizabeth DeGaynor, Th.D.
Professor, Theologian, Researcher
About
Elizabeth DeGaynor, Th.D. is Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Christian Formation at Virginia Theological Seminary. She previously served as Associate Director of the Master of Arts in Christian Practice degree program at Duke Divinity School and taught courses in Christian Education.
Dr. DeGaynor holds an MTS and a Th.D. from Duke Divinity School. Her dissertation, “Learning (Re)formation: An Ethnographic Study of Theological Vision and Educational Praxis at Grand Rapids Christian Schools,” focused on the relationship between theological mission and pedagogical vision, particularly in their implicit and explicit implementation; it involved historical research and ethnographic observation. This scholarly work embeds faith in culture to help (re)form learning communities. She also earned an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Virginia and an A.B. in English from the University of Michigan.
Dr. DeGaynor’s vocation is to build connections between Academy, Church, and World, particularly through teaching, which she has done at multiple levels (high school, undergraduate, and graduate). Her current areas of research include offering theological analysis of online pedagogies and exploring the relationship between contextual theology and public policy, as seen in Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ model of personalized, evangelical capitalism in American schools. She is also co-editing a revision of Journey to Adulthood (J2A), a youth ministry program of spiritual formation for grades 6-12, which will be released by Church Publishing, Inc. in 2020. Dr. DeGaynor serves as the Academic Ministry Coordinator for Duke Youth Academy, a program for high school students and adults in their home churches.
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Education
Duke Divinity School
Th.D. in Christian Education and Practical Theology (2015)
Dissertation Title: Learning (Re)formation: An Ethnographic Study of Theological Vision and Educational Praxis at Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Duke Divinity School
M.T.S. in Theology (2009, Magna Cum Laude)
The University of Virginia
M.A. in English with concentration in Victorian literature (1996)
The University of Michigan
A.B. in English with concentration in British literature and Composition (1993, with Distinction)
Teaching and Professional Experience
Teaching Areas: Practical Theology, Christian Formation, Theology & Literature
Virginia Theological Seminary (Alexandria, VA)
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Christian Formation (July 2019 – Present)
Duke Divinity School (Durham, NC)
Associate Director, Master of Arts in Christian Practice degree program (May 2015 – Present)
- Instructor, Christian Formation of Youth in Varied Contexts (Fall 2019)
- Instructor, Engaging the World through Literature (Fall 2016-19)
- Instructor, Christian Formation in Congregations & Communities (Fall 2015 & Spring 2017-19 & Summer 2019)
- Instructor, Doctor of Ministry Thesis Seminar (Research & Writing) (Spring 2017-19)
- Instructor, Advanced Practical Theology (Summer 2015)
- Instructor, Christian Ethics (Fall 2014 & Summer 2015-17)
- Instructor, Anglican-Episcopal History and Theology (Summer 2013)
- Instructor, The Mission of Youth Ministry (Summer 2012)
- Co-Instructor, Introduction to the Education of Christians (Fred Edie) (Fall 2014)
- Co-Instructor, Youth Minister as Communicator of Gospel (Fred Edie) (Fall 2012)
- Lead Preceptor, Christian Ethics (Amy Laura Hall) (Spring 2011)
- Lead Preceptor, Love in the Christian Tradition (Amy Laura Hall) (Fall 2010)
The Covenant School (Charlottesville, VA)
Chair and Teacher, Department of English (October 1996 – June 2007)
The University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia)
Instructor, Department of English Literature (September 1995 – July 1996)
Teaching Assistant, Department of English Literature (September 1994 – May 1995)
Writing Tutor, UVA Writing Center (January 1996 – May 1996)
Grand Rapids Community College (Grand Rapids, MI)
Writing Tutor, Language Arts Division (September 1993 – June 1994)
The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
Teaching Assistant, Department of Women’s Studies (January 1993 – May 1993)
Peer Tutor, English Composition Board (September 1992 – May 1993)
Professional Development (Leadership & Service)
Duke Youth Academy
Academic Ministry Coordinator (2007 – Present)
Duke Divinity School Certificate in Reflective and Faithful Teaching
Program Coordinator (Spring 2015 – Summer 2019)
Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
Part of the Task Force on Christian Formation, a response to the Galilee Commission Report of 2013 (Fall 2015 – Spring 2017)
America Reads (Duke University and Durham Public Schools)
Tutor and Mentor (Academic Years 2007-09, 2013-14)
Gathering of Doctoral Programs in Religious Practices and Practical Theology
Student representative (April 2012, March 2010)
Awards, Fellowships, Grants
Issachar Fund (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Awarded a Writer’s Retreat to fund completion of dissertation (July 2014)
Ray C. Petry Scholarship, Duke Divinity School (North Carolina)
Full-tuition award given for “academic achievement and promise for significant future contributions in the field of religious studies” (2007-2009)
Center for Creative Leadership (Colorado)
Received a scholarship to attend the Leadership Development Program (June 2006)
Presidential Citation, Governor’s School for Humanities (Virginia)
Nominated by a student as the educator who has had the greatest influence on intellectual growth (July 2004)
Golden Apple Award for Teaching (Virginia)
Recognized for distinguished performance in education and dedication to students (May 2003)
Folger Shakespeare Library (Washington, D.C.)
National Endowment for the Humanities Research Fellow (July 1998)