Margaret (Peggy) Parks Cowan, Ph. D.

Associate Professor of Religion
Ralph W. Beeson Chair in Religion
Chair of the Core Curriculum

Education

Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, 1990
   major: Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
   minor: New Testament
   dissertation: Genesis 38: The Story of Judah and Tamar and Its Role in the Ancestral
      Narratives of Genesis
M.A., St. Mary's University of San Antonio, 1983
B.A., Randolph-Macon Woman's College, magna cum laude, 1974

Academic Awards and Honors

Appalachian College Association Excellence Award for Cross-Institutional Collaboration, 2002 with Brian Pennington, David Howell, Vicki  
     Phillips, and Chris Heard
Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006
Josephine Blank Award, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Runner-up, Outstanding Teacher Award, Maryville College, 1997
University Tuition Award, Graduate Department of Religion, Vanderbilt University, 1985-1990
Phi Beta Kappa, 1974
Mary Lee Tillette Memorial Scholarship, 1972
National Merit Scholarship, 1970-1973

Professional Experience

Professor of Religion, 2009-present
Chair, Division of Humanities, 2008-present
Associate Professor, Division of Humanities, Maryville College, Maryville, TN 2000-2009
Ralph W. Beeson Chair in Religion, 1998-2006
Chair of the Core Curriculum (formerly Coordinator of General Education), Maryville College, Maryville, TN, 1996-2008
Assistant Professor, Division of Humanities, Maryville College, Maryville, TN, 1996-2000
Visiting Assistant Professor, Division of Humanities, Maryville College, Maryville, TN, 1995-1996
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Religion and Philosophy and Division of Humanities, Maryville College, Maryville, TN, 1990-1995

Professional Organizations

Society of Biblical Literature
American Academy of Religion
Southeast Commission for the Study of Religion
Association of General and Liberal Studies

Publications

"Teaching an Introductory Hebrew Bible Course without a Textbook," in Teaching Theology and Religion, July 2009.

"Introduction" and "The Vocation of Teaching at Maryville College" in "Chapter 8: The Vocation of Teaching in the Church-Related College" in Called to Teach: The Vocation of the Presbyterian Educator, ed. by Duncan S. Ferguson and William J. Weston, Geneva Press, 2003.

"The Vocation of Teaching: Themes and Models from the Presbyterian Tradition," in Teaching Theology and Religion, July 2002, with Roger Ebertz, Dubuque University and Mary Shields, Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Book Review of The Art of Teaching the Bible by Christine Eaton Blair in Presbyterian Outlook, November 12, 2001

Presentations

"Engaging Diverse Students in a Required Biblical Studies Course," Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, November 21-24, 2009, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Invited respondent, "Resources in Religious Traditions," The Maryville Symposium on Faith and the Liberal Arts, September 27, 2008.

"Honoring Professor James Barr," panel presentation, Southeast Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, March 8, 2008, Atlanta, GA.

"Moving General Education to the Core of the Academy" with Dr. Martha P. Craig at the American Association of Colleges and Universities Conference "General Education and Assessment: Engaging Critical Questions, Fostering Critical Learning" on March 1-3, 2007 in Miami, Florida

"The First Year at Maryville College," Appalachian College Association Summer Institute, Brevard, North Carolina, June 2006

"Perspectives: A Year-Long Integrated Seminar Series for First Year Students," joint presentation with Dr. Barbara Wells, Associate Professor Sociology, Dr. Rebecca Lucas, Assistance Professor of Education, Dr. Alesia Orren, Assistant Professor of Education, Mr. Andy Lewter, Assistance Vice President for Student Development, Conference on the First-Year Experience, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, Feb. 5-8, 2005, in Phoenix, Az.

"Text and Context: Using Technology to Connect Students with the Historical, Social, and Cultural Realities that Shape the Practice and Texts of Religion" with Dr. David Howell, associate professor of religion at Ferrum College at the national meeting of the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature, Nov. 20-23, 2004, in San Antonio, Texas

"Text and Context: Using Technology to Connect Students with the Historical, Social, and Cultural Realities that Shape the Practice and Texts of Religion," Appalachian College Association Technology Summit, joint presentation with Dr. Brian Pennington, Assistant Professor of Religion, Dr. David Howell, Assistant Professor of Religion, Ferrum College, Dr. Vicki Phillips, Assistant Professor of Religion, West Virginia Wesleyan, Dr. Chris Heard, Assistant Professor of Religion, Milligan College, Johnson City, Tennessee, October 24, 2002.

"Building Bridges Through Technology," demonstration of Faculty Instructional Technology Fellowship project, Appalachian College Association Technology Summit 2000, Knoxville, Tennessee, October 13, 2000.

"The Vocation of Teaching: Themes and Models from the Presbyterian Tradition," joint presentation with Roger Ebertz, Dubuque University and Mary Shields, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Consultation on the Vocation of the Presbyterian Teacher, Louisville, KY, August 10-13, 2000.

"Living Stones: An Encounter With Christians in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank:"

  • Holston Presbytery Meeting, Bristol, TN, December 6, 1997.
  • Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, TN, September 10, 1997;
  • Fountain City Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, TN, November 6, 1996;
  • Northside Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, TN, October 27, 1996;
  • New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville, TN, October 20, 1996;
  • Local Alliance For Middle East Peace, Knoxville, TN, September 30, 1996;
  • 'Celebration' educational event, Presbytery of East Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, August 24, 1996;
  • Blount County Ecumenical Action Council, Alcoa, TN, August 13, 1996;

"Feminist Theologies: Ancient Roots, New Growth," Community Forum Lecture, Maryville College, Maryville, TN, October 5, 1995

"The Bible and Human Sexuality," presentation for educational event, Presbytery of East Tennessee, Sweetwater, TN, March 10-11, 1995

"Exploring Our Language About God: The Bible and Feminist Theologies," workshop panel presentation, Presbytery of East Tennessee, Sweetwater, TN, July 12, 1994

"Judah and Tamar: Whose Story?" Women and Religion Section, Southeast Regional Meeting, Society of Biblical Literature and American Academy of Religion, March 15, 1992

"The Biblical Basis For Peacemaking," workshop presentation, Peacemaking 2000, national conference of the Peacemaking Program of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington, DC, June 25-27, 1990

Additional Professional Activities

Session Chair, Teaching Biblical Literature in a Liberal Arts Context Program Unit, annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, November 2010

Member, Steering Committee, Teaching Biblical Literature in a Liberal Arts Context Program Unit of the Society of Biblical Literature, 2008-present

Presented "The Liberal Arts and the Maryville Curriculum" and consulted with the Faculty of Sterling College, Sterling, KA on its General Education revision, December 14-15, 2007

Invited participant, Institute for the Liberal Arts at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009  QEP Evaluator, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 2005

Wye Faculty Fellow at the Aspen Institute's 2004 Wye Faculty Seminar "Citizenship in the American Polity," July 24-30, 2004

Maryville Liaison for Foundations of Excellence in the First College Year Project, 2002-2005

Text and Context," Appalachian College Association Instructional Technology Grant for teaching in religion, with colleagues from two other ACA institutions, 2001-2004

Faculty Instructional Technology Fellowship, Maryville College Instructional Technology Initiative, 2000-2001

Associate Director, Southeast Region, Rhodes Consultations on the Future of the Church-Related College, 2000-2001

Brain Trust, Consultation on the Vocation of the Presbyterian Teacher, 1999-2006

Steering Committee, Caucus of Scholars of religion at Church-Affiliated Institutions, American Academy of Religion, 1999-2006

Participant, Rhodes Consultations on the Future of the Church-Related College, 1998-1999

Service to Campus Community

International Programming Committee, 2009-present
Search Committee for Vice President and Dean of the College, 2007-2008
Chair, Core Curriculum Review Task Force, 2005-2006
Enrollment Management Team, 2005-2007
Convener, First Year Experience Coordinating Group, 2005-2008
Institutional Research and Effectiveness Committee, 2005-2007
Cabinet Retention Team, 2002-2004
Search Committee for Vice president and Dean of the College, chair, 2002
Chair of the Faculty, 2002-2004
Special Committee on Process for Public Events, chair, 2001
Faith and Mission Commission, co-chair, 2001
Maryville College Strategic Plan Steering Committee, 2000-2002
Accreditation Committee on Mission, chair, 2000-2002
Accreditation Steering Committee, 2000-2002
Traditions and Values Commission, co-chair 1999-2000
Planning and Budget Advisory Committee, 1999-2001, 2002-2004
Faculty Liaison Committee, Maryville College, 1998-2001, 2002-2004
Faculty Advisor, Sisters in Spirit, affiliated with the National Network of Presbyterian College Women, Maryville College, 1998-present
Faith and Learning Committee, Maryville College, 1997-present
Faculty Hearings and Appeals Committee, Maryville College, 1997-2000
Academic Life Council, Maryville College 1996-2002, 2006-2007

Service to Presbyterian Church (USA)

Teacher, Presbyterian Women Bible Study Leaders, Presbytery of East Tennessee, Maryville-Knoxville cluster, 2009-present
Co-Director, Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, July 15-19, 1998
Presbytery Visitor, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, Presbyterian Church (USA), 1991-1992
Member, Peacemaking Advisory Committee, Presbyterian Church (USA), 1990-1993
Presbytery of East Tennessee Peacemaking Committee, 1987-present; chair 1990-1992

Service to Congregations

Lenton Series: "The Prophets," Westminster Presbyterian Church, Spring 2003
Presentation: "The Promised Land: Israel and the Occupation of Palestine," Broadway United Methodist Church, June 23, 2002
Presentation: "Biblical Visions of Wellness ," St. Andrews Episcopal Church, October 14, 2001
Presentation: "The Historical Jesus and the Gospels," First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, March 27, 2001
Presentation: "Wilderness in the Old Testament," St. Andrews Episcopal Church, February 21, 1999
Sermon: "Seeing Clearly," New Providence Presbyterian Church, September 22, 1996
Sermon: "In The Wilderness," New Providence Presbyterian Church, February 14, 1999
Sermon: "Created in the Image of God," New Providence Presbyterian Church, May 24, 1998
Elder, New Providence Presbyterian Church, 1983-present, active member of Session,1988-1990
Sunday School teacher, liturgist, preacher, facilitator-consultant at several churches throughout the Maryville-Knoxville area.