Architect approved for Seminary's campus renewal master plan

Seminary's Board of Trustees also approves faculty promotions, honors long-term member [photos]

PHILADELPHIA (March 2001)-- Some key actions toward initiating a campus renewal plan were put in place during the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees for The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

The Board approved engaging the Philadelphia firm of George Yu Architects to undertake a master plan and design for the renewal initiative. Alvin H. Butz, Inc. of Allentown, PA, was approved as the Construction Manager.

In the Fall of 2000, the Board had approved a general strategy to build a new Learning Center on the 13-acre campus and remodel or make upgrades to its Krauth Memorial Library and its Schaeffer-Ashmead Chapel. The timetable and extent of the renewal effort, together with the projected cost, will probably be established some time this Fall, said Robert F. Blanck, who chairs the Board of Trustees.

In other key actions, the Trustees approved promotions for four LTSP faculty members. Assistant Professor Erik Heen was promoted to Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek with tenure. Professor Pamela Cooper-White was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology with tenure, and Professor Adele Stiles-Resmer was promoted to Associate Professor of Homiletics with tenure. Professor Richard Stewart was appointed to Associate Professor of Communications and Parish Administration. Heen, Cooper-White and Stewart are residents of Philadelphia's Mt. Airy. Stiles-Resmer lives in Blue Bell, PA. The appointments take effect July 1. The Trustees also approved the Seminary's exploring with the Pennsylvania Department of Education a Ph.D. program as part of its Advanced Level Degrees offerings, pending final approval from the Seminary's faculty.

The Seminary also honored Robert F. Blanck, Esq., of Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill for 30 years of service to the Seminary's Board of Trustees, 25 of them as its Chair. Blanck will be awarded an honorary doctorate degree during May 20 commencement exercises at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill.