
Category: Academic News


Jessup challenges students to ‘real world’ research
On the soccer field students know him as Ryan, striker, and one of the “old guys” who are – to students’ surprise – actually good. When he began teaching at ACU, Dr. Ryan Jessup helped start a weekly pick-up soccer game where faculty, staff and students play as equals. He came to ACU in 2011, … Continued

Unique course teaches students how to give well
An Abilene nonprofit organization was awarded $25,000 from a national group thanks to two students from ACU’s Strategic Philanthropy course who brought skills they learned to the 2017 Philanthropy Lab Ambassadors Conference in Dallas. Anna Casey, a marketing major from Willow Park, Texas, and Rees Heizelman, a management major from Abilene, joined 34 students from 17 universities across the … Continued
Aquino co-edits handbook on the epistemology of theology
Dr. Frederick Aquino (’89), professor of theology in ACU’s Graduate School of Theology, with Dr. William Abraham of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, published The Oxford Handbook of the Epistemology of Theology (Oxford University Press, 2017). This volume brings together leading scholars in the fields of theology and epistemology to examine and articulate what can be … Continued
Professor of Old Testament pens book of meditations
Dr. Mark Hamilton (’89), professor of Old Testament at ACU’s Graduate School of Theology, published Meditations for the Lone Traveler: The Life of Faith in a Changing World (2017). These 22 meditations on the songs, prayers and stories of the Bible invite readers to imagine themselves as part of a world in which human beings may fully live … Continued

Engineering, physics students make learning fun
Learning about engineering and physics means using science, math, economics, social and practical knowledge to solve real-world problems. For students in ACU’s Department of Engineering and Physics, it also means using their knowledge to make learning fun for local schoolchildren. The element of fun was evident during the department’s third annual Intro Design Expo … Continued
Centuries-old play unearthed by professor takes the stage in London
It’s not every day you find something significant when searching the internet. But Dr. Joe Stephenson recently did just that. He unearthed a manuscript of a play called The Dutch Lady, hidden for centuries in the archives of the Boston Public Library. The play is more than 300 years old and has been chilling … Continued

Grand opening of Study Abroad location in Leipzig draws a crowd
The grand opening last week of ACU’s new Study Abroad villa in Leipzig marks an exciting milestone in the university’s 21st-Century Vision goal of preparing students to think globally by offering valuable cross-cultural experiences. More than 125 special guests, including the mayor of Leipzig and other local dignitaries, toured the 15,000-square-foot villa that will … Continued
ACU to host Christianity and Literature conference in Dallas
ACU will host the Southwest Conference on Christianity and Literature on Oct. 5-7 at the university’s Dallas campus. Formed in 1956, the Conference on Christianity and Literature is dedicated to scholarly excellence and collegial exchange and is composed of several hundred members from over a dozen countries and a variety of academic institutions and religious … Continued
ACU named one of nation’s top universities
Abilene Christian University was again recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its annual “Best Colleges” rankings released today. Overall, ACU ranked No. 18 among 90 top-tier regional universities across 15 states in the West. ACU also ranked No. 9 in “Best Value Schools,” which takes into account a school’s academic quality weighed against net cost … Continued