A Statement from Dean Corey D. B. Walker on the Passing of Dr. Phyllis Trible
Winston-Salem, N.C. — “We mourn the passing of Dr. Phyllis Trible, a towering figure in biblical scholarship and a cherished member of the Wake Forest University community.
“Dr. Trible’s pioneering work in feminist biblical interpretation reshaped theological studies and continues to inspire new generations of scholars, students, and faith leaders. From her early years as Assistant and Associate Professor of Religion at Wake Forest (1963–1971) to her role as a founding faculty member and Associate Dean of the School of Divinity (1999-2002) and University Professor (2022-2012), Dr. Trible’s intellectual brilliance and profound faith shaped our institutional identity.
“In recognition of her pioneering scholarship and enduring contributions to the academy, Wake Forest University awarded her an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1997.
“She presided over the opening worship of the Inaugural Convocation of the School of Divinity in 1999, marking the beginning of a new chapter in theological education at Wake Forest University. She shaped intellectual life at Wake Forest through the annual Phyllis Trible Lecture Series (2003-2013), which brought leading scholars to our campus to critically engage and reflect on the significant scholarly contributions of feminist thought and theology.
“We are truly thankful for Dr. Trible’s extraordinary life, scholarship, and faithful witness — a legacy that exemplifies our mission of ‘justice, reconciliation, and compassion’ and uniquely embodies our university motto, Pro Humanitate.”
Dean Corey D. B. Walker
Wake Forest University School of Divinity
About the Wake Forest University School of Divinity
Founded in 1999, Wake Forest University School of Divinity is a graduate, professional school that is Christian by tradition, Baptist in heritage, and ecumenical in outlook. Guided by the University’s motto, Pro Humanitate, the School prepares leaders informed by theological vocation and equipped to serve as agents of justice, reconciliation, and compassion through imaginative academics and engaged community formation. The School offers masters and doctoral degree programs including dual degree programs in bioethics, counseling, education, law, management, and sustainability.
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