Dr. Susann Pangerl to Complete
Meadville Lombard Faculty Service
March 14, 2011
CHICAGO -- Meadville Lombard Theological School, a Unitarian Universalist seminary, announced today that the Rev. Dr. Susann Pangerl, a faculty member at Meadville Lombard since 2000, will complete her faculty service at Meadville Lombard effective August 31, 2011. An ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, Dr. Pangerl directs Meadville Lombard's doctor of ministry program, serves as professor of pastoral care, and has served in the past as a Meadville Lombard administrator. Her position is among those eliminated or altered by the Board of Trustees as the school undergoes a major realignment, which includes a new educational model and a founding role in a new theological university.
The Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, DMin '78, DD '01, president of the seminary, explained the significance of the upcoming changes. As previously announced, Meadville Lombard is partnering with Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Mass., to establish a new multi-faith theological university. In addition, Meadville Lombard has made a strategic decision to offer its degree programs only in the "TouchPoint" distance-learning format. The TouchPoint format consists of core courses that are uniquely taught and require particular teaching skills and dispositions. The combination of these two factors led the Meadville Lombard Board to conclude, with regret, that certain faculty and administrative positions should be altered or eliminated in anticipation of the upcoming transition.
For those reasons, President Barker continued, Dr. Pangerl was notified on September 23, 2010, that her faculty appointment would end on August 31, 2011. The school and Dr. Pangerl have since negotiated an amicable separation agreement, and Dr. Pangerl will therefore continue to teach and contribute to the mission of the school through August 31, 2011. President Barker stressed that Meadville Lombard values Dr. Pangerl's contributions to the mission of the school, thanks her for her service, and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.
