Mission
The Mission of the Department of Classical Liberal Arts is to provide students with a broad background in classical languages, logic, rhetoric, Biblical studies, history, English composition and literature, philosophy, science, and mathematics. They will encounter a multiplicity of ideas animating the world's great leaders and thinkers of the past in order to see how God has worked in and continues to work in His creation.
Majors
Core Curriculum
The foundation of all majors at Patrick Henry College is the core curriculum which is taught by the Classical Liberal Arts Department.
Our core is "Classical" in that it is founded on the great texts and ideas that have stood the test of time and experience, starting with the Holy Scriptures. Importantly, the American founders studied and lived by the great ideas found in these texts. We have designated the core as the "Liberal Arts" because it represents an education for a free people. By it they may learn to appreciate and to maintain their liberty.
Thus the Classical Liberal Arts teaches students to think from the first principles of our faith and God-given reason--the special revelation of His Word and the general revelation in creation that is available to all mankind. Every course in theology, history, literature, science, mathematics, philosophy, rhetoric, logic, music, and classical or foreign language reinforces first principles and trains the mind to think and to reason so that students are able to learn to learn, consistently gaining and using knowledge for greater purposes than simply self satisfaction.
Apprenticeship
In addition to traditional classroom study in the core curriculum, PHC integrates elements of practical professional experience to prepare its graduates for the realities of the contemporary workplace.
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Joanna Kurlowich and Lauren Moore taught elementary Latin classes for children ages 8-12. Josanna Simpson wrote the curriculum for the course. |
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Joanna Kurlowich and Sarah Lewis spent three weeks observing and teaching in a Classical Christian academy in Richmond, VA. |
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Marianne Wasson created a children's activity book and biography of Patrick Henry for use by PHC's Office of Admissions. |
Faculty
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 | Gene Edward Veith, Ph.D.
Provost
Professor of Literature
geveith@phc.edu |
| Dr. Veith oversees the academic programs at Patrick Henry College, which includes working with the faculty, managing the curriculum, and administering the educational services, including the library and the registrar’s office. He also teaches literature and other liberal arts courses. He is the author of 17 books on topics involving Christianity and culture, classical education, literature, and the arts. He previously served as the Culture Editor of World Magazine. For 19 years, he was Professor of English at Concordia University Wisconsin, where he also served for six years as the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Veith has also taught at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and has been a visiting professor at the Estonian Institute of Humanities, Gordon-Conwell, Regent College (Vancouver), and Wheaton College. He also serves as the director of the Cranach Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He has been a Fellow at the Capital Research Center and the Heritage Foundation. He received his B.A. in Letters (Literature, Philosophy, History, and Classics) from the University of Oklahoma and his M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Kansas. He and his wife, Jackquelyn, have three grown children.
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 | Steve Hake, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Department of Classical Liberal Arts
Professor of English Literature
srhake@phc.edu |
| Dr. Hake teaches literature and writing. Courses include Western Lit I and II and electives such as Selected Works of Charles Dickens and Christian Values in Tolkien. He also teaches upper-level literature courses for Classical Liberal Arts majors and oversees Practicum/Apprenticeship for CLA majors. He was a college professor/missionary for many years in Taiwan, and more recently launched Rivendell Study Center. He received a B.A in East Asian Studies from Colby College, an M.Div. in theology from Westminster Theological Seminary, an M.A. in English literature from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in English literature from Binghamton University. |
 | David Aikman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of History
Writer in Residence
dbaikman@phc.edu |
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Dr. Aikman teaches upper-level courses history of China, of Russia, and the Middle East, as well as Topics in History courses like Ages of Revolution, World War 1, and Eyewitnesses to History. He also oversees a practicum for students wanting to become writers. He has written eight books and co-authored four others. His most recent titles are: Great Souls, Jesus in Beijing, and the best-seller A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush. His second novel, QI, was released in 2005. A biographical evaluation of the life of Dr. Billy Graham will appear in the Fall of 2007. Dr. Aikman is a senior fellow of the Trinity Forum, and has been a foreign policy consultant in Washington D.C. For 23 years Dr. Aikman was a foreign correspondent and senior correspondent for Time Magazine and reported from four continents and fifty-five countries, notably Russia, China, and the Middle East. He has also been a correspondent for TV documentaries. He speaks several languages, including Russian and Chinese. Dr. Aikman received his B.A. (Hons) in Russian and French from Oxford University, his M.A. in Central Asian Languages from the University of Washington, and his Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington.
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 | Darrel Cox, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
dwcox@phc.edu |
| Dr. Darrel Cox is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies. Dr. Cox has a Ph.D. in Theological Studies (Biblical and Systematic Theology) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and an M.A. in Public Policy (International Affairs) from Regent University. His previous position was at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA., where he was an Associate Professor of Bible and Theology. While at Emmanuel College, Dr. Cox also served as Chairman and Associate Dean of the School of Christian Ministries, as well as a faculty liaison for new academic programs with SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). |
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Neal Doran , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
nadoran@phc.edu |
| Dr. Neal Doran comes to Patrick Henry College as Assistant Professor of Biology. Dr. Doran is a paleobiologist who specializes in the statistics of biological form and survivorship analysis. He received his B.S. in geology and M.A. in the history of science from the University of Florida, his M.S. in geology (paleontology) from the University of Cincinnati, and Ph.D. in geology (paleontology) from Florida State University. Dr. Doran’s teaching in the Classical Liberal Arts will integrate history and philosophy with traditional science. His research interests include statistical questions involving both living and fossil, macro and microinvertebrate organisms. Historical interests include the metaphysics behind modern biological thought and its relationship to the punctuated equilibrium controversy. He is currently completing a four-year, statewide statistical analysis of chemical trends responsible for the degradation of Florida’s springs (e.g., increase in the blue-green algae genus Lyngbya). The latter will be published for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Geological Survey. |
 | Michael Kucks, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Physics
mjkucks@phc.edu |
| Dr. Michael Kucks is Assistant Professor of Physics and holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. Dr. Kucks came to Patrick Henry College from the private sector, where he served as an R&D engineer in the commercial and military electronics industry as well as an independent contractor doing industrial electrical training. Dr. Kucks has also been an adjunct professor at Lehigh University and a visiting professor at Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, PA. |
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 | Bonnie Libby, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Literature
bllibby@phc.edu |
| Dr. Libby teaches literature at PHC. Her fields of interest include medieval literature, eighteenth-century British literature, and rhetoric. She received her B.A. in English Education from Oral Roberts University, her M.A. in English from the State University of New York, College at Brockport, and her Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Before coming to PHC, Dr. Libby was a lecturer in English at UNCG and an adjunct professor of English at John Wesley College. |
 | Steven McCollum, D.M.A
Associate Professor, Director of Music
sgmccollum@phc.edu |
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Dr. Steven McCollum is the Director or Music and an Associate Professor of Music at PHC. Before coming to PHC he served as the Chairman of the Music Department and Director of Choral Activities at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Dr. McCollum holds a D.M.A. (Doctorate of Musical Arts) and an M.M. (Master of Music) in choral conducting from the University of Washington in Seattle and a B.M.Ed. (Bachelor of Music Education) from Biola University. Among his additional areas of study, Dr. McCollum has been a conducting fellow at the Oregon Bach Festival. At PHC, Steven directs the PHC Chorale, teaches Music History & Appreciation, administrates the chapel music program, provides leadership for the music faculty, and is writing the curriculum for PHC’s future music major. Dr. McCollum has been a music educator for the past 18 years, serving as a choral director for junior high through college aged students and as an adjudicator/clinician. His choirs have been honored for their musical excellence, traveled internationally, and produced notable recordings. His mission and passion is to nurture musical leaders who are able to provide excellent direction and mentorship, regardless of style, to our churches, schools, and community ensembles.
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 | Laura McCollum, Ed.D.
Dean of Academic Affairs
Associate Professor of Education
lemccollum@phc.edu |
| Dr. Laura McCollum is Dean of Academic Affairs and Assistant Professor of Education. Dr. McCollum holds an Ed.D. from Seattle Pacific University and specializes in curriculum and instruction. As Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. McCollum will be serving as an assistant chief academic officer to the Provost, managing the development and implementation of academic and curricular policies and procedures. She comes to PHC from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, where she served as Director of Assessment. Concurrent with her administrative role she will be a member of the PHC faculty and will teach Pedagogy in the Department of Classical Liberal Arts. |
 | Stephen McRoberts , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Classics
ssmcroberts@phc.edu |
| Dr. Stephen McRoberts is an Assistant Professor of Classics. He was previously at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, where he was a lecturer of Classics. Dr. McRoberts holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Classics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; he also holds an M.A. in Theological Studies from Emory Candler School of Theology and a B.A. in History and Greek from Wheaton College. Dr. McRoberts has extensive college level teaching experience in Roman History, Greek and Latin. |
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 | Mark T. Mitchell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
mtmitchell@phc.edu |
| Dr. Mark Mitchell is Director of the political theory track. He received his B.A. in history from Crown College, his M.A. in philosophy from Gonzaga University and his Ph.D. in government from Georgetown University. Dr. Mitchell teaches Freedom’s Foundations, Ancient and Medieval Political Theory, Modern and Contemporary Political Theory, Conservative Political Thought and other political theory courses. His research interests include modern and contemporary political theory, conservative political thought, the political implications of science and technology, and political themes in literature. Dr. Mitchell has published on such figures as Eric Voegelin, Michael Polanyi, Michael Oakeshott, and Flannery O’Connor and on themes including democracy, community, and tradition. His first book, Michael Polanyi: The Art of Knowing, was published in 2006 by ISI Books. He is currently completing a book on modern rootlessness and the challenge this poses for democratic life as well as co-editing a volume on the thought of Wendell Berry.
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 | J. Travis Moger
Instructor of History
jtmoger@phc.edu |
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J. Travis Moger is Instructor of History at Patrick Henry College. He is currently completing his doctorate with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Prior to teaching at PHC, Prof. Moger served as an adjunct professor of history at Rollins College (FL). In summer 2007, he was a fellowship recipient at the Institute for European History in Mainz, Germany and previously studied at the University of Frankfurt, Germany, during the 2005-06 academic year as part of a J. William Fulbright Grant. He holds a B.A. in Religion from Dallas Baptist University (summa cum laude, 1988), an M.Div. (Master of Divinity degree, with languages) from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (1993), and is a candidate for the Ph.D. in History at UCSB. He has authored articles on the Reformation for Mennonite Quarterly Review and The New Westminster Dictionary of Church History.
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Robert Spinney, Ph.D.
Director of Distance Learning
Assistant Professor of History
rgspinney@phc.edu |
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Dr. Robert Spinney is a historian who specializes in American and U.S. Diplomatic History. He teaches U.S. history courses at Patrick Henry College and serves as Director of Distance Learning. In addition to ministering as a pastor for six years, he has taught at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN), Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL), and Volunteer State Community College (Gallatin, TN). He has published two academic history books (one a comprehensive history of Chicago and the other a history of Nashville during World War II) as well as numerous ministry-related booklets. After receiving a B.A. in Government and History from Harvard University, he earned an M.A. and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.
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James Tallmon, Ph.D.
Professor of Rhetoric
jmtallmon@phc.edu |
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Dr. Tallmon comes to Patrick Henry College as Professor of Rhetoric, having previously served as Professor of Rhetoric and Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program at Dickinson State University in North Dakota. Dr. Tallmon earned his BS in Speech Communication from Black Hills State University, his MA in Rhetoric from Colorado State University, and his Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Ethics from the University of Washington. He is published in the area of rhetoric, ethics, casuistry, rhetorical reason, argumentation, and contributes regularly to classical liberal arts education conferences. Dr. Tallmon enjoys teaching students to apply classical theory to the resolution of contemporary problems.
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