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For new students, the start of their journey at Princeton Theological Seminary can be at once exciting and full of anticipation, while also somewhat uncertain – even unnerving. So, we asked a few of our professors for advice to help incoming students navigate this new journey – both inside and outside of the classroom.
What tips can you share for incoming students on how to have a successful semester or overall educational experience at PTSEM?
“Go to chapel! Respect your classmates; eat lunch with people you don’t know but see in class; seek to learn from those who might think differently from you and respect your classmates. Oh. And, go to Chapel!”— Dr. Nancy Gross, Arthur Sarell Rudd Professor of Speech Communication in Ministry
“Read books. Read everything your professors asks you to read and read everything they only recommend that you read. Live at the library. Don’t be fooled into thinking that podcasts, vlogs, and online discussions can in any way substitute for the traditional reading of books. More than anything else, education is reading and thinking about what you have read.” — Dr. Dale Allison, Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament
Get to know each other, organize study groups or informal meetings to chat about what you’re learning and how you’re responding to it. Come to office hours! Attend our Chapel services, which are different every day and incredibly restorative. Take full advantage of being in Princeton and attend the many events we have on our campus, as well as at the University and the Princeton Public Library, not to mention the many offerings of our larger region (NYC and Philly). Find a balance between study/work, fun, and rest.
Please provide some insight into your teaching style and expectations for your students.
“In my classroom, the focus is less on the transmission of information and more on the formation and development of the student which is enhanced when the students attend chapel. Experimentation in vocal range and production which are foci in speech classes can be practiced while singing in chapel. Students can reflect on their theological development, view of scripture and devotional practices by attending chapel regularly and participating as they are led by other students.” — Dr. Gross
“This fall, I’m co-teaching World Christian History I (WCHI), which covers some 1,500 years of history. We can never cover everything, but I help students make larger connections, find patterns, and ask questions across time/space. For instance, one thing Ethiopia and Ireland share in common is that they were never part of the Roman Empire, and so Christianity emerged and developed in distinctive ways that differ from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions that did develop in Rome and its successor states. Large lecture courses may not initially seem exciting to some, but they absolutely can be, humans have been storytelling for millennia. I’d encourage students to think about WCHI lectures in terms of stories, set in contexts often very different from our own but that have been essential to how we understand Christianity today.” — Dr. Kennedy
What can a student do to succeed in your class?
Be willing to give of themselves to engage and support their classmates, and attend chapel so that they can experience the worship traditions and piety of their classmates, and experience spiritual support for the Seminary journey.
“Show up, take notes, do the reading and ask questions. If you feel you’re falling behind, reach out to your TA or professors for advice. Study the material steadily throughout the semester so that you’re confident by the time the final arrives.” — Dr. Kennedy
Do you offer assistance of any kind?
“I meet every student in individual conference, offer one-on-one coaching and sometimes require students to meet in small groups of two or three to work on certain assignments. I am always available to make appointments for conversation, and I assist by encouraging every student to make daily chapel a habit.” — Dr. Gross
“I am always happy to set up appointments by email, and I will have open office hours during the weeks of the semester when I am lecturing. I strongly encourage everyone to drop by during office hours. This is a good time to ask any questions you have about the course material, but also to discuss the primary source texts, learn about the various opportunities we have at Princeton Seminary, or check out my collection of Star Wars LEGOs.” — Dr. Kennedy
What do you most look forward to in this new semester?
“Meeting new students and working with them as they begin their Seminary journey in theological education.Teaching “Preaching from Paul” for the first time in years and, going to chapel!” — Dr. Gross
“I’m looking forward to getting to know first-year students.” — Dr. Kennedy
To all our new students, congratulations and welcome to the Princeton Theological Seminary community!
Dr. Nancy Gross, Arthur Sarell Rudd Professor of Speech Communication in Ministry, received her MDiv and PhD from Princeton Seminary. Her areas of interest include speech communication, worship, and preaching.
Dr. Amelia Kennedy, Assistant Professor of the History of Medieval Christianity, studies the histories of health, medicine, aging, disability, and Christian monasticism. She is also a religious and cultural historian of medieval Europe. Her first book, which examines old age in European religious societies between 950 and 1350, is presently being completed.
Dr. Dale Allison, Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament, has written books on a wide range of topics, including death and the afterlife, George Harrison, and religious experience. The historical Jesus, Matthew’s Gospel, Second Temple Judaism, and the development of biblical text interpretation and application are among the topics of his scholarly writings and study.
