Faculty

David Cox

Professor of History

Professor David Cox

“I’m hoping that in exploring our rich heritage of our country’s history, government and faith, students can understand the treasures we inherit so that they can keep them thriving for the future.”

Education

  • Ph.D. in Theology, Foundation House, Oxford/Graduate Theological Foundation, 2001
  • M.Div., S.T.M., Yale University, 1972, 1987
  • B.A. in History with University Honors, University of Virginia, 1969

Courses

  • Core: America and the Enlightenment
  • History Major: The Reformation, Survey of American Religious History, The American Civil War and Reconstruction; Race in America, America’s Founding Mothers and Fathers, The First Amendment

Teaching Positions & Professional Experience

  • Joined Southern Virginia University in 2006
  • Taught ethics at Dabney Lancaster (now Mountain Gateway) Community College, 2006–10
  • Ordained in the Episcopal Church, 1972; served parishes in Connecticut, northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hot Springs; served as rector of R. E. Lee Memorial (now Grace Episcopal) Episcopal Church in Lexington from 1987–2000.

Scholarship & Creative Work

  • “A Religious Biography of Robert E. Lee,” appeared as part of the “Library of Religious Biography” issued by the Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2017
  • “Lee Chapel at 150,” a sesquicentennial history of the chapel built by Lee at Washington and Lee University, 2018
  • “Priesthood in a New Millennium,” 2004
  • Historical papers presented at the Virginia Forum, 2015, 2016, 2019
  • Has written regularly for newspapers and magazines

Awards, Leadership & Service

  • Faculty advisor for Phi Alpha Theta, 2018–present
  • 2018 Professor of the Year, awarded by the Southern Virginia University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi
  • Organized and executed Reformation Conference, Southern Virginia University, 2017
  • Member, Lexington City Council, 2008–12
  • Received fellowships at Harvard Divinity School (2001) and Virginia Theological Seminary (2000) for doctoral studies