The Rev. Dr. Daphne L. Burt Selected as University of Richmond's Next Chaplain
March 5, 2004
The Rev. Dr. Daphne L. Burt, associate dean of Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago, has been named to succeed the Rev. Dr. David D. Burhans as chaplain of the University of Richmond.
An ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Burt leads worship, provides pastoral services, directs campus religious programming and guides a variety of interfaith activities at Chicago. She will have similar responsibilities at Richmond, adding supervision of the Bonner Scholars program and Community Service Day, among others.
Her appointment is effective July 1.
"Dr. Burt earned strong support and enthusiasm from many constituencies during her recent campus interview," said Richmond President William E. Cooper. "I am confident she will be highly effective in guiding the chaplaincy's future."
Burt expressed admiration of Burhans' accomplishments over the past 30 years and excitement about moving to the city and university.
"One of the things which really attracted me to this position was the university's commitment to community service and diversity. I am excited about contributing to the future of a great university," she said.
Burhans, who met with Burt during a campus visit, called her "a person of mature faith who delights in and celebrates her own religious tradition, and who respects people of other faith traditions." He described Burt as thoughtful, genuine, compassionate and someone who "will be an articulate, relevant and winsome advocate for moral and spiritual values."
Douglas Hicks, a professor of leadership studies and religion at Richmond, described Burt as "an authentic, pastoral and compassionate person of faith who will bring many gifts to the university. She sees building personal relationships as the principal way of doing her work. Firmly committed in her own Lutheran faith, her inter-religious efforts at Chicago have been deep and broad."
Emma Goldman, a chemistry professor who is a member and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of Richmond, served on the search committee. Goldman said Burt is "articulate and energetic and demonstrated an ability to engage in open and meaningful conversation with the wide variety of campus constituencies."
"She brings the ability to build and create a campus environment that is open, welcoming, and understanding and to encourage relationships among different groups on campus," Goldman said.
Burt previously served as director of the Campus Christian Community at Mary Washington College and as chaplain at Newberry College. She has taught at Duke University and for a lay ministry training program of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Burt holds a B.A. from Yale University, a master of divinity degree from The Catholic University of America, and a doctor of ministry degree from Lutheran Theological School in Chicago.
She has published more than a dozen articles, devotionals and book chapters. Her more than 24 workshops and conference presentations have covered campus ministry, social justice, relationships, domestic and sexual violence, preaching and Bible studies.
Richmond's chaplaincy is an endowed position, funded by the Jessie Ball DuPont Foundation.