The Lincolnian

Issue date: 5/28/08 Section: News

Dean Gladys J. Willis

For over thirty years Dr. Gladys J. Willis has worked at Lincoln University, as a professor, the chair of the Department of English, and now as Dean of the School of Humanities and Graduate Studies.

For the last twelve years, she has been known to many as a preacher with the title of Reverend Dr. Gladys J. Willis.

Willis, who first began teaching at Lincoln in 1977, says she always knew that she wanted to be a professor, but little did she know that later she would be called to ministry, attend seminary and become ordained.

Willis finished her seminary training in 1996 at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Prior to coming to Lincoln, Willis taught at several institutions including Rider College in New Jersey; Cheyney State College in Pennsylvania; City University of New York (Manhattan Community College) and her alma mater, Jackson State College in Mississippi, the college that awarded her an undergraduate degree.

Apart from preaching once a month at her home church in Philadelphia, Willis has been invited to be the guest preacher at many churches in and outside of Pennsylvania. In 2004, she was invited back to Lutheran Theological Seminary for the Preaching With Power Conference, where she lectured on the influence of Alice Walker on womanist theology.

Willis acknowledges that she has a professional obligation to her school and her students, but says that her professional responsibilities do not stop her from putting God first in her life.

"There is no confusion or conflict between the two commitments," says Willis, when asked if she finds it hard to balance the two obligations."They fit together nicely. I don't feel the need to apologize for my Christian faith; it is the reason for my accomplishments".

Incoming Student Government Association President Milan Carter says that Willis has a strong belief in God, but does not force her religious beliefs on others.

From her perspective, Willis thinks that there should be no conflict between one's faith and education. Each complements the other.

Willis points out where her faith assists her in her work. She's the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in English from Princeton University. Now, she feels that she can inspire students to strive for similar accomplishments.

"One needs to be in touch with his or her own educational and spiritual being," she says. "Every student needs to find his or her own spiritual grounding."

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