Over the summer Kendall College of Arts & Sciences welcomed Rita and William H. Bell Professor in Anglican and Ecumenical Studies Matthew Drever to the dean’s office as the new associate dean of faculty and research. Drever has taught in the Department of Philosophy & Religion since arriving at The University of Tulsa 17 years ago in addition to teaching in the Honors College. In this question-and-answer article, we dig deeper into his time at UTulsa, his research and what he looks forward to most in the dean’s office.
Tell us about your research.
I have published a book and numerous articles on Augustine and how he has been interpreted in Western thought, particularly from the early modern through the contemporary periods. I have examined Augustine’s connection to thinkers such as Luther, Calvin and Kierkegaard. I have also examined contemporary issues such as secularism and immigration through an Augustinian lens. Currently, I am working on an Augustinian assessment of Christian Nationalism. I am also writing a manuscript that examines Augustine’s understanding of virtue and its connection with his account of Christ.
What drew you specifically to the teachings of Saint Augustine?
Augustine stands directly and indirectly behind much of Western thought: from Medieval Christian thinkers like Bonaventure and Aquinas, to Reformation figures such as Luther and Calvin, to contemporary philosophers like Martin Heidegger and J-L Marion. Augustine’s influence and reception is far-reaching and diverse and allows us to historically trace theologically and philosophically significant themes such as divine providence, faith and reason, the rise of modernity and secularism and ethics that still resonate with us today.
Tell us about your work with UTulsa’s Oklahoma Center for the Humanities.
It has been a pleasure to work with Sean Latham and the OCH over the past several years as a faculty fellow and a member of the advisory board. The year I served as a faculty fellow, we ran seminars on the themes of courage and rage, and I enjoyed working with fellow faculty, students and community members to bring in a range of speakers on those topics. The OCH has been an exemplary model of how to promote humanities scholarship and pair it with a thoughtful engagement with the wider UTulsa and Tulsa communities. I am especially proud of the Mellon Fellowship that the OCH has been recently awarded.
What has been your favorite course to teach?
I do not have any single course that is a favorite to teach, but I most enjoy teaching courses that have a strong interdisciplinary focus such as: God and Human Suffering, Religion and Science and the Honors core courses. These courses draw on religious, philosophical, literary and historical writings and allow us to examine fundamental questions about human existence. The diversity of texts allows for a rich examination of religious and philosophical themes and elicits great class discussions.
What excites you most about joining the Kendall College dean’s office?
We have excellent faculty at this university: great scholars and teachers. This position as associate dean of faculty and research will allow me to engage with and help fellow faculty members in their professional careers. I look forward to learning about and discussing their various research projects and helping them through the tenure and promotion process. We also have an excellent staff in the dean’s office, and I look forward to working with them at the college and university level in promoting and maintaining a strong liberal arts curriculum at UTulsa.