Jennifer Howell, Ph.D. Appointed to Honors Program Faculty

The Honors College has appointed Jennifer Howell, Ph.D., currently Director of the Theology, Ecology and Food Justice Program at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, as a new Clinical Assistant Professor of Theology in the Honors Program. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Howell will continue her role at Truett Seminary. 

“We are very happy  to have Dr. Howell on board,” said Elizabeth Corey, Ph.D., Director of the Honors Program. “Her background at Truett Seminary and her role as Theologian in Residence at the World Hunger Relief Farm will greatly enrich the courses she’ll teach on theology and hunger.”

Howell holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Texas A&M University; a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School; and a Ph.D. in theology from Baylor University. Her dissertation focused on German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s understanding of the doctrine of creation. She has also taught courses in Christian theology for Truett Seminary and the Honors College since 2017. 

“There is an environment in the Honors College that encourages students to think deep and wide,” Howell said. “Given the variety of interests and passions our students have as well as our smaller classroom sizes, teaching in the Honors context is wonderful. I’m also grateful to be joining a group of faculty from many different disciplines. My work is interdisciplinary, and having the opportunity to build community with the faculty excites me.”

The Dean of the Honors College, Douglas Henry, Ph.D., said, “Dr. Howell brings to her role deep reflection on how the natural and built landscape, human language, and love of God and neighbor hang together or fall apart. Indeed, when we participate in God’s redemptive work in the world – including care for creation and for the needs of others – we follow in the way of Jesus. When we ignore the travail of our landscape or neighbor, we compound one tragedy with another. For these reasons, we’re elated to have someone as wise as Dr. Howell teach our students how to hold together theology, ecology, and food justice.”

Howell, who has served as the Director of the Theology, Ecology and Food Justice Program at Truett since 2020, hopes to unite her two positions by bringing unique opportunities to Honors College students. 

“Over the last several years I’ve built relationships and collaborations across the Baylor campus, within the Waco community, and beyond,” Howell said. “Most notable are my partnerships with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and the World Hunger Relief Institute. Through these partnerships, we’ve built out some unique learning opportunities. I’m dreaming up some great internship opportunities for Honors students who want to explore the connections between care of creation and care of neighbor.”

When Dr. Howell is not at Baylor, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children and enjoying their home on the Middle Bosque river. 

With all of us, please celebrate Dr. Howell’s addition to the Honors College!