Following a nationwide search, Adam Winn, PhD, a distinguished scholar of the New Testament, has been selected as the new chair of Samford University's Howard College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biblical and Religious Studies and the S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong Professor of Religion. Winn's tenure, effective August 2024, follows the leadership of Roy Ciampa, who admirably served as the department's chair for six years.
"I am extremely honored to be chosen as the new chair of the Biblical and Religious Studies Department at Samford," Winn said. "I consider it not only a great privilege but also a great responsibility to lead this excellent department in a way that represents Samford University and its Christian mission well. I look forward to working together with the faculty to find ways to continue to serve not only our students and university but the churches of Alabama as well."
“Our nationwide search brought us many qualified candidates for this pivotal position,” said J. Michael Hardin, Samford’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I’m grateful for every committee member who dedicated their time to this search. This position holds immense significance and visibility, and I am delighted that we have appointed someone of Dr. Winn's caliber to fulfill it. He is an outstanding scholar with exceptional pastoral experience.”
Winn comes to Samford after serving as a professor of the New Testament and Greek at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor for eight years. Before that, he taught New Testament at Azusa Pacific University for two years and as an adjunct at Fuller, Asbury and Truett Seminaries.
He has also written numerous books, including The Purpose of Mark’s Gospel: An Early Christian Response to Roman Imperial Propaganda (Mohr Siebeck, 2008), Reading Mark’s Christology under Caesar: Jesus the Messiah and Roman Imperial Ideology (IVP, 2018) and Israel’s Lord: YHWH as Two Powers in Second Temple Literature (Fortress/Lexington, 2024). His work also includes numerous articles and academic essays. His research interests include the Gospel of Mark, the Roman imperial context, and the Christology of the New Testament and its connection to Jewish monotheism.
As a dedicated professor, Winn's primary focus is helping students become better interpreters and practitioners of Scripture by diving into the historical and cultural context in which it was written. His passion extends beyond academia, as he is also equally committed to bringing the fruit of biblical scholarship to congregations as an ordained minister through teaching courses and preaching sermons from the pulpit.
"I have long considered Samford to be one of the finest Christian universities in the country," Winn said. "Throughout my interview process, I learned just how special of a place it is from the numerous people I interacted with. It is the kind of institution you want to work for and call home. In addition to that, I share Samford’s Christian mission and Baptist identity, making it a perfect fit and academic home for me as a Baptist Christian scholar of scripture. I am thankful that God has led me here, and I am excited to join the family at Samford University."
Howard College of Arts and Sciences dean Dawn McCormack believes Winn's experience will strengthen Samford's Christ-centered mission saying, "Dr. Winn is a well-regarded scholar and professor of New Testament and we’re so excited to have him here at Samford. His eagerness to recruit new majors and support the Biblical Foundations course for our undergraduate students will only contribute to the growth of the department and further the university’s mission.”
