Les Steele
Professor Emeritus of Christian Formation
Les Steele served as professor of Christian formation and chair of the Theology Department. In 2000, after drafting the plan for creating the School of Theology, he was named its first dean. In 2001, he became chief academic officer.
Dr. Steele’s priorities for academics included faculty development, learning outcomes, and ethnic diversity. He worked with deans and faculty to explore theories of learning and what it means to be intellectually focused on student-learning objectives. His work in ethnic diversity included collaborating with faculty to implement curricular and instructional change, with student life and residence life staff to support students from underserved populations, and with off-campus ethnic community leaders to advise and inform campus efforts. In 1990 he was honored by students as Professor of the Year.
Books
On the Way: A Practical Theology of Christian Formation
Wipf and Stock, 2001