Bryan Stewart, Ph.D. is a professor in and head of McMurry’s Department of Religion and Philosophy. A high school soccer and baseball player, he understands how the discipline of athletics can translate into success in the classroom—set good habits, do the work, be committed and listen to your coach.
Dr. Stewart joined McMurry as an assistant professor in 2009 from Valparaiso University, where he was a Lily fellow and lecturer. Each semester, he makes sure to learn the name of every student and values the way McMurry fosters genuine relationships among faculty and students.
Dr. Stewart teaches a variety of introductory and advanced courses, including Introduction to Christianity and upper-level classes in church history, worship, liturgy and the Bible. He loves helping students understand the deep intellectual legacy of the Christian faith—that it’s OK to be a Christian and a thinker.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Stewart has a wide range of research interests, including understanding how early Christians read and understood the Bible. He has published two books, written dozens of articles and presentations, and is currently working on a manuscript exploring the development of Christianity in early Britain.
In recognition of his excellence as a teacher and scholar, Dr. Stewart received the E.E. Hall Memorial Scholar Award for 2016-2017 and the Gordon R. and Lola J. Bennett Award for Outstanding Teaching, Service and Leadership in 2016. In 2015, he secured a Lilly grant for McMurry faculty to explore the meaning and practice of teaching in a church-related institution of higher education.
Dr. Stewart earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Virginia. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from Grove City College, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Dr. Stewart and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of three children: Eowyn, Fox and Micah. The Stewarts love spending time in nature—and Dr. Stewart is an avid fly fisherman. He’s also a diehard fan of his hometown teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins.