Beauchamp announces retirement after two years of diminished campus presence; no new chaplain for now
John Krudy
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: News
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He will continue his consulting for the college, including academic counseling, but he will leave all his duties as director of the Great Opportunities for Assistance Leadership program.
Professor of Religion John Reist, who was vice president for academic affairs in 1988, hired Beauchamp to direct the GOAL program.
"I saw in him a man of intellect, focus, thoughtfulness, and with a distinctly Christian understanding of life," Reist said. "He's clearly stood out as a fine addition to campus life. He's done an excellent job: I've referred many students to him for counseling."
Diane Philipp, vice president of student affairs and Beauchamp's boss, said the college has not yet hired a new chaplain.
"We're working on that," she said. "[Beauchamp's] agreed to stay on, so we have a back-up plan if there's not a new chaplain right away. It's nice to know he's not moving."
Beauchamp said the college will retain him on a part-time basis for college events.
Beauchamp studied for the ministry at Nashotah House, an Episcopalian seminary in Wisconsin. He was ordained in 1975, and then worked in Texas as a parochial minister, and assistant to an effort to help thousands of East Asian and Spanish-speaking immigrants who poured into Dallas during his time there.
"That's where I first learned to work with small and large groups of people," he said.
He was the founding pastor for Holy Trinity Parish at its inception in 1989, moving it into its first building in 1998, the same year he became chaplain at the college.
Since that time, serving God and inspiring servant leadership have become the two hallmarks of his work at here, he said, and he sees the same attitude in students.
"Students here today are brighter, and more articulate, but they are very willing to reach out to others, not just find the best party or satisfactions that 'I' want," he said.
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