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Amy Oden, interim dean and History of Christianity professor, has been named Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., effective July 1.

A scholar, educator and author, Oden has served at Wesley Theological Seminary for nine years – as Professor of History of Christianity since 2002 and as interim dean since 2009. Upon earning her doctorate from Southern Methodist University, she became an assistant professor of Church History at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo. She went on to become the Claude and Ollie May Bell Professor of Church History at Oklahoma City University. She succeeds the Rev. Bruce Birch, dean from 1998 to 2009, and current Special Assistant to the President and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Theology.

“Amy Oden is a creative, accomplished dean who is recognized nationally for her scholarship and her academic leadership,” said the Rev. David McAllister-Wilson, Wesley’s president. “She will work closely with our faculty, staff, and students to lead the seminary to even greater academic excellence. We conducted an extensive search, and she was our first choice. We are very pleased she has chosen to take on this critical role at this time.”

Oden shared insights on some of her plans for the upcoming school year.

“Wesley is an amazing place full of very gifted people,” Oden said. “We want to listen to and lead the mainline church toward renewal. As a church-based seminary, we can develop new methods not only to teach students but also to reach out to the church.” Oden has an extensive portfolio of scholarly and religious work.

She has participated in or presented papers at nearly 50 workshops. She has authored three books: In Her Words: Women's Writings in the History of Christian Thought; And You Welcomed Me: Sourcebook on Hospitality in Early Christianity; and God's Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel-Hungry World. She has also received several project grants, written 15 journal articles, and penned numerous book reviews. Her list of awards and honors are considerable, including the Ollie Bell Chair of Church History, the CASE Professor of the Year award, and serving as President of the Southwest Region of the American Academy of Religion.

“It’s an honor to lead the Wesley faculty, scholars who love to teach, and who are passionate about preparing students for ministry,” Oden said. “We are a community eager to pay attention to what God is doing in the world and to cultivate leaders for the missio Dei [mission of God].”