Baylor Religion Department Adds New Faculty
Two new faculty members have joined Baylor University's department of religion. Dr. Joel S. Burnett, who began teaching classes during the second summer session, comes to Baylor from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C. Longtime Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Dr. Thomas V. Brisco will begin teaching at Baylor in the fall.
"With these two appointments, Baylor will continue to have the strongest Old Testament studies program in the Baptist world," said Dr. William Brackney, chair of the religion department. "Dr. Burnett is a fine young scholar with broad language preparation and has already received recognition in the field of Old Testament. Dr. Brisco has a world class reputation in archaeology and Bible background."
Burnett, a Spartanburg, S.C., native, joined the religion faculty as assistant professor of religion. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, he received his bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from Wofford College, a master's degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. Burnett had served as assistant professor of religion at Gardner-Webb University and instructor of record at Johns Hopkins.
An ordained minister, he has written articles for Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible.
Burnett and his wife, the former Jamie Lou Wilson, have two children.
Born in Hot Springs, Ark., Brisco will join the religion faculty as professor of religion. He received a bachelor's degree from Ouachita Baptist University, and his master's and doctorate degrees from Southwestern. He has been a participant and also assisted in the development and administration of archaeological field excavations in Texas, New Mexico and Israel.
Brisco is the author of The Holman Bible Atlas and also has written articles in several publications. He is listed in the Outstanding Young Men of America, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Who's Who Among Biblical Archaeologists and Who's Who Among American Teachers.
Brisco has served as pastor of churches in Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Switzerland. He and his wife, the former Judy Carol Gunter, have two children.
For more information, contact the department of religion at 710-3735.