BETHLEHEM, PA, February 21, 2025: Today, Moravian University announced that it has named Christian Rice its new Vice President and Dean of the School of Theology. Rice brings more than two decades of experience in higher education and theological education to this role. Prior to joining Moravian University, Rice worked at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. Rice was at Ursinus since 2010, first as the Assistant Dean for Civic Engagement then moving on to become the Associate Dean for Civic Learning. Rice was also an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and the Humanities at Ursinus since 2020.
“Christian grew up in the Moravian Church, and he shared with us that this upbringing fostered a love for the Church’s history, traditions, music, and theology,” said Bryon Grigsby, president of Moravian University. “The entire university community, in Bethlehem and Lancaster, welcomes Christian’s passion for theological education and looks forward to working with him to lead the School of Theology.”
During his time at Ursinus College, Rice worked extensively with faculty, staff, and students on the development of curricular and co-curricular projects. In 2016 Rice was one of three faculty members from three different disciplines who founded the Melrose Center for Global Civic Engagement. The Center has provided a dynamic space for students to confront social problems in both a domestic and international context. Rice has also served on the board of trustees for Moravian Academy (Bethlehem, PA) since 2014, and was one of three Moravian Academy board members who orchestrated the merger with the Swain School (Allentown, PA) in 2020.
“Christian’s experience in a small regional college similar in some ways to Moravian University, his intellect couched with great listening skills and deep empathy, his involvement in the Moravian Church community, and his true excitement for this position will serve him—and us—well as we move to integrate the two seminaries into a new School of Theology and rethink the future of theological education,” said Carol-Traupman-Carr, provost at Moravian University.
Rice’s educational background includes Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University (2008), Doctor of Theology (Th.D.); Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University (2001), Master of Divinity (M.Div.): concentration in religious ethics; Ursinus College (1998), B.A., magna cum laude with distinguished honors (politics and German).
Christian Rice officially begins his tenure as Vice President and Dean of the School of Theology at Moravian University on June 1, 2025.
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Moravian University
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corrm@moravian.edu
610-861-1365
About Moravian University
Moravian University, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is the nation’s sixth-oldest university and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. For more than 280 years, the university has been preparing students for reflective lives, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change. Moravian University is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NACU), a national consortium of private comprehensive colleges and universities working together to graduate extraordinary professionals for a global workforce and society.
In 2024, Moravian University became part of a World Heritage designation when Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem, Gracehill (Northern Ireland, UK), and Herrnhut (Saxony, Germany) joined Christiansfeld (Denmark) as a single World Heritage Site—Moravian Church Settlements. Moravian is just the second university in the United States to be part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation and only the eighth university in the world to have this recognition.
Visit moravian.edu to learn more about how Moravian University prepares its students for lifelong success.