FERRUM, VA, July 3, 2025 – Associate Professor Eric Vanden Eykel, program coordinator for Religious Studies, has been appointed as the Dean of Faculty at Ferrum College. Vanden Eykel joined the Ferrum faculty in 2014 as an assistant professor of religious studies and he has served as the Interim Dean of Faculty since November 2024.
Vanden Eykel earned his Ph.D. and M.A. from Marquette University, as well as a M.Div. from Emory University. From 2021 to 2024 he held the Forrest S. Williams Teaching Chair in Humanities, an academic leadership role at Ferrum College designed to support faculty scholarship and teaching endeavors. He has served on and chaired a variety of college committees and led faculty development workshops on topics such as the growth of AI technology and its influence on academics.
Vanden Eykel is the author of two books and a number of articles and book chapters, on topics such as early Christian history, Biblical figures, and their interpretation and influences in modern life. He has also co-edited two books and has two more books in progress under contract with publishers. He is co-editor of Journal for the Study of Christian Apocryphal Literature and general editor of Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies.
Most recently, Vanden Eykel co-edited Judeophobia and the New Testament, published in April 2025. This book and other recent work deals with anti-Jewish violence, the way Christian scripture has been used—both in the past and the present—in service of anti-Semitism, and approaches to teaching about anti-Semitism in biblical studies classrooms. Vanden Eykel’s 2022 book is The Magi: Who They Were, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate. He shares his work with the public as well as his students; for example, he was featured in an American Media Podcast episode on the stories behind Christmas carols in 2024.
Provost Delia Heck said, “Eric is a bright and shining presence at Ferrum College. His dedication to his students, his scholarship, and his colleagues is exemplary. During his time in the interim role, he demonstrated a strong aptitude for academic administration. Eric now brings clarity, fresh ideas, and genuine enthusiasm to Academic Affairs, as well as to collaborations across campus and with the broader community.”
The Dean of Faculty is responsible for the recruitment, professional development, community engagement, student advising, and retention of faculty, with the goal of ensuring the highest standards of teaching, research, and service at the College. Vanden Eykel said, “I see the Dean of Faculty role as an opportunity to help guide faculty and academic affairs through the changing landscape of higher education. In this position, I hope to foster a culture of transparency, collaboration, and trust. I’m committed to strengthening shared governance and supporting faculty-driven initiatives in teaching and curriculum. Effective academic leadership should be grounded in data, built on trust, aligned with shared goals, and carried out through genuine collaboration. I see the chief responsibility of this position as helping to create conditions where faculty can thrive and our academic programs can function and adapt with purpose and integrity.”
“Dr. Eric Vanden Eykel brings notable academic and scholarly experience to the role of Dean of Faculty,” said Ferrum College President Mirta Martin. “We are grateful for his continued service to Ferrum College and look forward to his contributions in this important role.”
