University of Richmond names the Rev. Craig T. Kocher as next chaplain
July 20, 2009
The Rev. Craig T. Kocher, associate dean of the chapel and director of religious life at Duke University, has been appointed the next chaplain to the University of Richmond. He also will hold the University's Jessie Ball DuPont Chair of the Chaplaincy.
In his dual role at Duke, Kocher developed and led a university-wide program of religious and spiritual life that included interfaith dialogue, vocational discernment, domestic and international service trips and pilgrimages, and social justice programs. He also assisted with management of the Duke Chapel, which has a staff of 25, and served as a worship leader and preacher for the chapel's congregation of 1,000.
Kocher's appointment is effective Aug. 17. Kate O'Dwyer Randall, acting chaplain to the university since December 2006, will remain with the university as associate chaplain.
"Craig Kocher brings a broad range of experience to the university in the areas in which we are eager to see the chaplaincy continue to develop," said Richmond president Edward L. Ayers. "His work at Duke provides him with a valuable perspective of living in and leading a complex faith environment. His warm personal qualities and commitments make him a great match for the Richmond community."
Kocher said the University of Richmond "is a place of excellence and promise, and I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve as chaplain. I'm delighted to come to a place where the chaplaincy has played and continues to play a cherished role in the university's life. I look forward to joining the UR community, and am excited about the good work we will do together."
Kocher holds a B.A. in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and master of divinity degree from Duke. He is candidate for a doctor of ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary.
Before his appointment at Duke, Kocher was associate pastor of the 3,200-member Davidson (N.C.) United Methodist Church and campus minister to Davidson College. He launched the college's Methodist fellowship, which grew from 10 to 50 student members in less than two years.
Kocher joined Duke as assistant dean of the chapel and director of religious life in July 2003. He served as acting dean of the chapel in 2004-05 and became associate dean of the chapel in July 2007, while continuing his responsibilities as director of religious life. He also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in religion, and he has published commentaries, articles, essays and sermons in The Wesley Study Bible, The Christian Century, Pulpit Resource and other periodicals.
Kocher has led student service-learning trips to Honduras, Canada, France, New Mexico and Turkey.
Ordained by the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Kocher did not always appear headed for a career in ministry. While in college and graduate school, he was play-by-play announcer for UNC's baseball and women's basketball teams and worked as director of sports programming at WCHL-AM, a Chapel Hill commercial radio station.
Kocher is married to the Rev. Abby Williford Kocher, Duke Chapel's community minister.