United Theological Seminary Honors Faculty with Endowed Positions

DAYTON, Ohio, October 30, 2025 — United Theological Seminary welcomed students to campus October 13-17 for the first Gathering Week of the 2025-2026 academic year. On Wednesday, October 15, Dr. Wendy Deichmann, interim academic dean and vice president for academic affairs, addressed the community during the seminary’s annual Academic Convocation.

In addition, Interim Dean Deichmann and Dr. Peter Bellini were recognized for their academic excellence by their appointments to endowed chairs.

“An endowed chair represents the highest form of recognition a faculty member can receive at an academic institution,” said Dr. Tom Lasley, second vice chair of United’s Board of Trustees, as he introduced the endowed positions. He also highlighted the importance of such endowed teaching positions to both the honoree and the seminary. “In an endowed chair, there is an opportunity to share from your expertise in a way that furthers the faith, furthers the institution, and furthers the goals for which the endowed chair was created.”

Interim Dean Deichmann was appointed to the Philip William and Susan Otterbein Chair for Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Studies. Newly established by members and friends of the Center for the EUB Heritage at United, the chair is named for Philip William Otterbein and his wife Susan Leroy Otterbein, who were early proponents of German Pietism in America. With Martin Boehm, Philip Otterbein spearheaded the founding of The United Brethren of Christ in 1800, one of the predecessor denominations to the Evangelical United Brethren Church which was instrumental to the seminary’s formation.

Dr. Bellini, who has long served in the Heisel Chair of Evangelization and Church Renewal, received a medallion during the ceremony to formally celebrate and honor his years of scholarship and leadership in the chair. The Heisel Chair was established in 1992 by Dr. Eldred B. and Mrs. Ruth M. Heisel of Columbus, Ohio, where Dr. Heisel was professor emeritus in the Department of Internal Medicine at Ohio State University.

“We are blessed to have such outstanding scholars as Dr. Deichmann and Dr. Bellini here at United Theological Seminary,” said President Kent Millard. “They exemplify not only the academic excellence but also the faithfulness of United’s academic community.”