(left to right) Retired professor Zelda Oates gets
her book signed by Dr. Ben Farley;
Dr. John. L. Carson gives Dr. Ben Farley his Younts
Excellence in Teaching Award
Retiring
Erskine Bible and Religion Professor Collects Top
Teaching Award at Annual Honors Day May 4
Erskine College professor Dr. Benjamin Wirt
Farley, whose Erskine teaching career spans 26 years,
was selected to receive the Younts Excellence in
Teaching Award, administered by the faculty, which
elects recipients from among teachers nominated by
the student body. The award, given May 4 at the
Erskine College Honors Day Convocation, includes a
cash gift provided in memory of the late Dr. C.R.
Younts of Atlanta, Ga., former treasurer of the
Erskine Board of Trustees and longtime patron of
Erskine College.
“Teaching so many outstanding students year
after year has been both a challenge and a joy,”
said Farley, who has won the Younts Excellence in
Teaching Award twice previously, in 1977 and 1989.
The Erskine faculty veteran explained that his
teaching methods have changed over the years.
“I've moved away from relying on lectures only
to a more discussion oriented approach, especially in
my advanced courses, where I also encourage a lot of
Socratic give-and-take.
“I'm not sure how I've influenced
students,” said Farley, who will retire at the
end of spring term. “The students have
influenced me through their diversity, interests,
genuine openness to new ideas, and their
friendship.”
“Dr. Farley's classroom contributions to
Erskine's academic life have been substantial,”
said Dr. William B. Evans, chair of the Bible,
Religion and Philosophy Department at Erskine.
“He has taught courses on a wide range of
topics, and has developed course offerings for a
philosophy minor that have proven quite popular with
students.”
“Ben Farley is a great example of someone who
has given his life to Erskine College, especially its
students,” said Erskine president Dr. John L.
Carson. “He embodies those things Erskine prizes
most in its professors: renowned scholarship,
engaging teaching, and compassionate concern.”
Honored April 25 at a retirement reception in
McCain Library, where he also signed copies of his
latest book, Son of the Morning Sky : Reflections
on the Spirituality of the Earth , Farley is
likely to continue his writing career even as his
Erskine teaching career comes to a close.
“He is one of the most prolific writers on
the Erskine faculty.” said McCain Library
director John Kennerly, who with the library staff
hosted the reception for Farley.
Evans, whose department co-sponsored the reception
with McCain Library and the Erskine Campus Bookstore,
described his colleague as “an internationally
recognized Reformation scholar who has produced a
number of important translations of works by John
Calvin,” adding that Farley has served as
president of the Calvin Studies Society.
“Conducting research and writing everything
from scholarly pieces to fiction has been a wonderful
boon,” said Farley. “It spills over into my
courses in many different forms. Sometimes the
writing has led to new courses, and sometimes course
work has led to new books.”
“He is a faculty scholar who epitomizes what
you would expect from an endowed professor,”
said Erskine vice president and academic dean Dr.
Donald Weatherman, noting that Farley is Eunice
Witherspoon Bell Younts and Willie Camp Younts
Professor of Bible, Religion and Philosophy.
“With nine books to his credit and publishing
companies seeking to rerelease some of his earlier
publications, he is the sort of scholar you might
find occupying an endowed chair at a larger
institution,” said Weatherman. “Yet he has
exercised his considerable teaching talents in small
class settings here at Erskine.”
Describing his vision of retirement, Farley, who
lives in Irmo with his wife, Alice Anne, said he
hopes to “teach a little; write some more;
travel; trout fish; hike; play golf; maybe preach
some, if asked; enjoy my family; and, as always,
meditate on the mystery of the Infinite and the
meaning of our human existence.”
