Baylor Names Two Distinguished Professors

Dr. David Lyle Jeffrey, professor emeritus in the department of English at the University of Ottawa, and Dr. Robert C. Roberts, professor of philosophy and psychological studies at Wheaton College, have been named Distinguished Professors at Baylor University. Jeffrey will serve as Distinguished Professor of Literature and Humanities, and Roberts will serve as Distinguished Professor of Ethics.
"I am enormously pleased with the appointments of Dr. Jeffrey and Dr. Roberts as Distinguished Professors at Baylor," said Dr. Donald D. Schmeltekopf, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "I cannot think of two academics in all of North America who are better suited than Drs. Jeffrey and Roberts to assume these roles at Baylor. They both possess outstanding international reputations in their respective fields of literature and ethics, and they both are excited about joining the Baylor family and contributing to Baylor's future."
Jeffrey received his bachelor's degree from Wheaton College and his master's degree and doctorate from Princeton University. He began his tenure at the University of Ottawa in 1978, serving as professor and chair of the English department. He was named professor emeritus in 1996.
A noted scholar in medieval studies and the Bible and literature, Jeffrey is the author or editor of 12 books, including People of the Book: Christian Identity and Literary Culture, which was named one of Christianity Today's Top Ten Books of 1997.
Roberts received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Wichita State University and a bachelor of divinity degree and doctorate from Yale University. He served as professor of philosophy at Western Kentucky University before joining the faculty at Wheaton College in 1984.
He is the author or editor of numerous books and professional papers including Faith, Reason and History: Rethinking Kierkegaard's Philosophical Fragments and Taking the Word to Heart: Self and Other in an Age of Therapies. Additionally, he regularly contributes articles to Christianity Today and The Christian Century.
In 1998, Baylor officials announced plans to add 20 high-profile scholars to the university's faculty over a seven-year period. Some of the scholars would be named University Professors with the rest being named Distinguished Professors. University Professors will teach various disciplines while Distinguished Professors will teach in a specific area. Dr. Carl G. Vaught, former professor of philosophy at Pennsylvania State University, was named the first Distinguished Professor at Baylor in May 1998. Dr. Ralph Wood, former Distinguished Professor of Religion at Samford University, was named University Professor in 1998, and Dr. Marc Ellis, a former visiting scholar at Harvard University, was appointed University Professor of American and Jewish Studies in 1999.