Stan W. Fornea, 46, Th.M. Home State: Texas Denomination: Episcopal Education: Southeastern Louisiana University, 1979, B.A., history; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1982, M.Div., homiletics; Vanderbilt University, 1983, D.Min., homiletics/worship Resume: Lt. Cmdr., U.S. Navy Chaplain most recently assigned to U.S.S. LaSalle, a command-and-control ship and flagship, U.S. 6th Fleet, deployed on the west coast of Italy. Served Baptist churches in Mississippi and Texas. He and his wife, Belinda, have two children. “I was drawn to Duke’s stellar reputation, its outstanding academics, and its high profile personalities. I’m interested in Professor Hauerwas’ pacifistic approach. Being in the military, I just found that extremely interesting – especially related to the ethics of military chaplaincy.”

Claycomb’s recruiting is grounded in her own experiences at Duke, and in her sense of the position as a ministry. “When (Associate Dean) Greg Duncan approached me about the job, he said, ‘Don’t come unless you can see this as a ministry,’” says Claycomb, who did not feel ready to leave her appointment at First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, N.C.

“Now I realize what an amazing ministry this is,” she says. “I often say that the church has enough mediocre pastors leading enough mediocre congregations. We want people who are eager to be prepared for exceptional ministry that truly makes a difference. It’s a privilege to recruit students who are ready for such a critically important endeavor.”