Columbia, S.C.–Candace Kant, Ph.D., has been named Academic Dean by Cherry Hill Seminary, replacing retired Academic Dean Emerita Wendy Griffin.

Kant has served as Cherry Hill Seminary Dean of Students since 2012.  She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Ph.D. in History from Northern Arizona University. She has taught history, women’s studies, and religious studies courses at the College of Southern Nevada since 1976, including such classes as the History of Witchcraft, Goddess Traditions, Introduction to Modern Paganism, and Modern Pagan Thought, all of which she developed. After 32 years of teaching Kant retired and was awarded the title Emerita. She developed and taught courses in practical Pagan and Goddess Spirituality at the Temple of Goddess Spirituality dedicated to Sekhmet in Cactus Springs, Nevada and through the College of Southern Nevada Continuing Education. A devotee of Sekhmet, Kant was ordained at the Temple of Goddess Spirituality in 2003 and has served as one of the temple priestesses since 2006.

I am honored to be able to serve the Pagan community in this capacity,” said Dr. Kant. “I have enjoyed serving as

Dean of Students, and now am looking forward to this new challenge. Cherry Hill Seminary is a unique institution, providing quality education and training for the Pagan community and it is a pleasure to be a part of it.”

Originally founded as a private school in Vermont, the Seminary has operated as a nonprofit since 2007, and began offering graduate degrees in ministry and religious studies in 2009. Three students have earned their Master of Divinity, and several dozen have earned certificates, including two individuals who recently earned their Community Ministry Certificate.

The Search Committee included Executive Director Holli Emore, Academic Dean Emerita Wendy Griffin, graduate student Wes Isley, faculty member Christina Beard-Moose, and Board of Directors member Jeffrey Keefer (also an educator). Keefer had this to say:

“We are thrilled with the energy and enthusiasm that Candace brings with her, and after having worked with her as Dean of Students for several years already, I am happy and confident she will bring us fresh ideas for student and faculty involvement, opportunities to reach new audiences, and leadership with expanding our work across the broad spectrum of modern Paganism. We could not do better than having Candace as our new Academic Dean moving forward.”

Executive Director Holli Emore said, “Candace has worked with our students for years now, and she agreed to serve as interim Academic Dean during our search process. We are very fortunate that she threw her hat into the ring. While Wendy’s shoes are large ones to fill, Candace has a lifetime of education and administrative experience and is very committed to Cherry Hill Seminary. She’s always been a joy to work with, and I look forward to continuing that relationship now with her serving in such a vital capacity.”

Kant  assumes her new position immediately.  For more information, contact the office at CHS@cherryhillseminary.org.

Columbia, S.C. — Wendy Griffin, Ph.D., has been named Academic Dean Emerita by Cherry Hill Seminary, as she retires from seven years of service as Academic Dean for that institution.

Griffin was the first permanent academic dean for Cherry Hill Seminary (CHS), taking the position on January 1, 2011. Professor Emerita of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies at CSU Long Beach, Griffin was one of the first scholars to publish academic research in Goddess Spirituality and Wicca. She is founding Co-chair of the Contemporary Pagan Studies Group for the American Academy of Religion, co-editor of the first academic series in Pagan Studies, and on the editorial board of The Pomeganate: the International Journal of Pagan Studies. Editor of the anthologies Daughters of the Goddess: Studies of Healing, Identity and Empowerment and of Sacred Land & Spiritual Landscapes, she has published numerous articles and chapters here and internationally. In her spare time, she has published two historical novels.

The announcement was delivered today by former CHS board chair Jeffrey Albaugh at the 14th annual Conference on Pagan Studies, following Griffin’s conference presentation. Albaugh noted his gratitude for her dedication to strengthening and shaping CHS programs. The full text of the proclamation is given below.

Executive Director Holli Emore said, “It is rare that one is able to enjoy the kind of experience I have had working with Wendy for the past seven years. It has been a deep privilege, and I know that I speak for the entire staff when I say how very much she will be missed.”

Longtime colleague Michael York, who also has taught for CHS for more than ten years, provided this statement:

Throughout my own academic career, Wendy Griffin has constantly impressed as a most esteemed colleague. In addition, I have also come to be extremely privileged to be able to call her a dear friend. But apart from our friendship, she has never failed to inspire one and all with her professional abilities and acute intellectual engagement. With all challenges of education and research, she has become a distinguished model, and what has been particularly appreciated is the warm and human touch she brings to every aspect of her work. Certainly, Cherry Hill Seminary has benefitted immensely from her directorship for which she freely sacrificed much of her retirement time. I believe everyone who has had contact with her has nothing but gratitude for her sensitive concerns as well as her achievement in bequeathing the seminary a durable legacy to carry the institution skillfully into the future.

The Seminary continues its search for a new academic dean.

For more information, contact the office at CHS@cherryhillseminary.org.

PROCLAMATION

In Honor of Wendy Griffin
Presented by The Board of Directors

WHEREAS Dr. Griffin

Recognized the value of a professional educational program to serve the unique needs of students desiring to learn about Pagan and other Earth-Based Spiritualities and to serve those communities;

Offered her profound expertise and experience to shape a graduate program which could be presented successfully for formal accreditation;

Showed vision for the future of Cherry Hill Seminary through a generous endowment gift;

Supported her Cherry Hill Seminary colleagues and students in every way she was asked for these past ninety-five months, earning their deep admiration and full trust;

Demonstrated exceptional commitment to the organization by serving a full seven years as Academic Dean, far beyond her original three-year term;

Remained dedicated to standards of academic integrity even in times of shifting public opinion;

Exemplified resilience, fortitude and faith in the importance of Cherry Hill Seminary to the world; and

In all of her work as Academic Dean, shared wisdom, compassion, and the accumulated expertise of her career in academia, without reservation;

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of Cherry Hill Seminary do proclaim on this 26th day of January, 2018 the appointment of Dr. Griffin as Academic Dean Emerita.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Cherry Hill Seminary will preserve a copy of this PROCLAMATION for posterity, making it a part of the Seminary permanent record.

Longtime Cherry Hill Seminary faculty member, James L. Bianchi passed yesterday after several weeks of illness. Jim taught for CHS for more than a decade, his signature course being “Religion and the Law.” He was scheduled to begin Monday teaching a new course, “Moral Advocacy: Overcoming the Divide,” about which he was enthusiastic.

Aline O’Brien (M. Macha NightMare) recalls Jim’s beginnings with CHS:

“The minute I met James, I knew he’d be great for Cherry Hill Seminary, if I could interest him. Fortunately, he was indeed interested, and he began teaching Paganism and the Law the next semester. He has remained steadfast in contributing his time, knowledge, wisdom, and support ever since.

“James also spearheaded efforts at getting volunteers to work with Pagan inmates and fostering networks of those who do. He drummed everywhere he went. He called the Quarters in Gaelic. He was a most generous and enthusiastic Druid. His loss to San Francisco Bay Area Pagandom and beyond is immeasurable. In love may he return again.”

Executive Director Holli Emore took Jim’s original course and remembers how he gave her the grounding to understand how the law underpins our American society, how to research case law, how to make a case when advocating for a cause, and more. “Jim has always been there for me, first when I was his student, and in the years since, after I became director. He was excited about the new summer course he had developed, called Moral Advocacy: Overcoming the Divide.* He helped CHS set a standard for excellence in our very early years. We will all miss him more than I can say.”

While the family has not yet released an obituary, son Matt Bianchi posted a message on social media which gives a glimpse of Jim’s many talents and interests:

“He is and was; a professor, a lawyer, a Druid, an artist, a writer, an advocate for the voiceless, a scout master, a tracker, a community leader, a stargazer, a wilderness survivor, a musician, a healer, a friend, a father, a husband, a son, a cousin, an uncle, a brother, a wanderer, fighter, a sounding board, a story teller, a mentor, an optimist, a realist, a comedian, a genius, a spiritual leader . . .”

Cherry Hill Seminary invites its students, faculty and volunteers to share their memories about Jim for an online tribute page; send these to CHS@cherryhillseminary.org. Gifts in memory of Jim may be made at https://staging.cherryhillseminary.org/support-us/give-now/, or we will share any selected charities which may be announced by the family.

For more information, contact the office at CHS@cherryhillseminary.org. *Note that Moral Advocacy will run during the summer semester, taught by Deirdre Sommerlad-Rogers, Ph.D.