Religious historian David Holmes to speak at Wright State

David L. Holmes

Professor emeritus of religious studies at the College of William & Mary, renowned author and historian David L. Holmes is set to lecture at Wright State about his recently published book, The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents: From Truman to Obama.

Holmes will speak and be part of a discussion on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at E163 Student Union from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The lecture is part of Wright State’s Honors Dialogue program.

Holmes is a well-known American historian celebrated for his captivating lecturing style and his stimulating and informative Q&A sessions. Currently, Holmes is engaged in a book tour across the Midwest. He has spoken at several colleges, libraries and book festivals.

His lecture will focus on his new book, but will also include anecdotes not limited to the religious upbringing of the 12 presidents.

“I expect that he will not just talk about the post-war presidents, but will range more broadly,” said Ava Chamberlain, Ph.D., associate professor of religion. “His first book looked at the Founding Fathers, so I expect he will also touch on them.”

Holmes is an academic paragon, holding degrees in English from Michigan State and Columbia universities and a master’s and Ph.D. from Princeton University. He also studied theology at Duke University Divinity School and received honorary doctorates from Lycoming and Hood colleges.

At William & Mary, Holmes received numerous teaching awards, including the Graves Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching, the Outstanding Faculty Award of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Thomas Jefferson Award, the highest honor given by Jefferson’s alma mater to an administrator or professor.

“I expect that those who attend the event will find the speaker engaging and the topic interesting,” said Chamberlain. “The role of religion in American politics is a subject of much current interest. I hope those who attend will learn more about religion shapes the deliberations and policy decisions of the president, both in the past and today.”