Scott Carroll, Ph.D.
Professor of History
Division:
History & Social ScienceDegrees:
Ph.D. in Ancient Studies, Miami University (with further ancient language studies at Hebrew Union College); M.A. in Patristics, Trinity Divinity School; B.A., West Virginia University; B.A., Tennessee Temple University
Career Path
When I was in college I came to faith in Christ and this transformed my interests and set me on a new direction. Prior to this my life was dominated by athletics at a Division I university playing two sports and on the US team competing internationally.
I had come from a long line of educators, at the high school and university levels. They all taught history which ignited my interest from an early age interacting with them and reading their most recent books. In fact, my high school US History text was written by my Aunt and Uncle! They never gave me the teacher's guide no matter how hard I begged.
In addition, my father and others in my family had Ph.D.'s or the equivalent. Education was highly regarded but empty of purpose without a faith mission.
After I completed my undergraduate degree my young family and I packed up our stuff and entered a two and a half year masters program in church history. I wanted to investigate the ideas and beliefs of those who lived closest to Jesus. This was important for me because it gave me a sense of connection with the past and a part of the tradition for the future.
My interest developed around ancient languages, archaeology and the study of Christian backgrounds and early church history. I moved my family once again to study under one of the world's leading specialists in my areas of interest and especially Gnosticism; an early Christian heresy.
I have an extremely high regard for my mentor and I wouldn't change my experience for anything--I'd do it again in a heartbeat. My mentor's mentor was an outstanding scholar as well and perhaps trained more evangelical scholars in this area than any single person in the 20th century. My mentor's mentor is my grandfather mentor. And should you come to study with me he will be your great grandfather mentor.
If you become my student you join a tradition. I've had tons of students over my 25-year career. I especially love undergrads; so much more can be done with them. My students find happy and blessed lives doing all kinds of things with great contentment and a sense of holy purpose. Nearly 20 students have finished their PhDs and are presently teaching at universities around the country.
Back to my story; I was focused on teaching throughout my graduate education. I taught wherever I could while I finished my doctoral degree at places like Miami University, Xavier University and Mount St. Joseph's College. When I finished my doctoral work I got a teaching position at Gordon College in Boston, Mass. I taught there and at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary for 6 years.
I left my academic post to organize and oversee the organization and use of the largest private collection of biblically-related antiquities in the world. My language abilities, interests, research and relationships opened this door for me. It was a fabulous experience. I built-up a staff and entity from nothing but around this fabulous collection of antiquities. We began excavating an extremely important early monastic site in Egypt; the kind of place ancient biblical texts were copied. We also had seminars with the Vatican Library and the British Library.
Regrettably the family that owned the collection had a change of interest after the death of the person who had assembled the collection. Many of my staff went back to the university to teach. They were all outstanding teachers. I continued to work in archaeology at a handful of sites around the world. The aim was to integrate technology and archaeology in Middle School classrooms with a multifaceted, interdisciplinary, live experience. This might not sound advanced; but it sure was at the end of the 1990s. The prototype I created was picked as one of the top five educational internet sites in the world. Students from 35 countries participated. The Smithsonian Institute featured a live simulcast between kids in inner city Washington DC and the Sahara. My program is a permanent standing exhibition at the Smithsonian for the use of technology in education. The work was featured in a wide variety of publications--National Geographic, the Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report etc, on television programs like Nightline and the feature of a documentary on NBC; as well as NPR to name a few examples.
I continued doing this until my wife, then later I, was contacted by Cornerstone for consideration for a position in history. We live in Grand Haven MI about 50 miles from campus so someone felt that they might see what I was up to. Really prior to this Cornerstone and my path never really crossed. So it was a surprise for me.
Academic History & Involvements:
I continue to work directing the archaeological excavation in Egypt. The things that I have learned about technology have enhanced my classroom and research. As for my work with ancient manuscripts; that also continues. I'm presently directing along with several others a huge initiative relating to ancient biblical antiquities. There will be much more to say in the very near future.
I have the awesome privilege to work with numerous unknown ancient manuscripts, including unknown texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls and early biblical manuscripts and manuscripts of religious importance.
My students get first-hand opportunities to work on these things. They are amongst the first to know about them, long before students and professors from so-called elite universities.
I speak at universities and churches about 20 weekends a year. This includes seminars on how we got the Bible and the Bible and archaeology. The seminars typical go from Thursday/Friday to Sunday/Monday making for a long weekend and a short week.
I have also been involved creating documentaries. I produced one. With each of them, I help with the creative input and lead in front of the camera. These have aired on MSNBC, Fox, CBS and elsewhere.
Courses Taught:
World Civ I (the backbone to my stuff--I love it), History and Religion of the Ancient Near East and Egypt, Classical History, Early Church History, Medieval History, Archaeology, Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs , Introduction to Sahidic Coptic, Advanced Readings in Greek and Latin
I also take 30-40 students for an academic and spiritual excursion to Greece for a month.
Personal Information:
I married a girlfriend from high school. We have 4 kids; 2 boy and 2 girls. The oldest boy and girls are finished with graduate school and are pursuing their careers in film production and art history, conservation and museum management. The two youngest, a boy and a girl, still have a few years to go before they are officially out of the nest. One is very accomplished on bass and the other is career-bound in ballet.
Besides 2 geckos, a turtle and a snake we have a beautiful black standard poodle (the big ones). She is extremely smart, full of love and energy and does not have a silly haircut, although she comes from a championship bloodline. Her name is Piper.
Other Interests & Pursuits:
Sports. Physical fitness. Travel. Hiking. Fishing.
Comments:
"An education is not about learning to DO something; it's about learning to BECOME someone."
"Study is worship.' An ancient Jewish adage from the time of Christ.
"Learn the past to live for the future."
"You've heard it said, 'If you forget history you're condemned to repeat it' but I tell you, 'If you forget church history, you're condemned.'"
Believe to know and know to believe.
"In the essentials unity, in the non-essentials liberty but in all things love."
Phone:
616.949.5300 x1321
