Dr. Calvin DeWitt will serve as a guest lecturer at Ouachita Baptist University on Tuesday, April 15, speaking on “A Christian Perspective toward Environmental Stewardship.” His presentation is part of the university’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series.
DeWitt serves on the faculty of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. A noted environmental scientist, lecturer and award-winning teacher, he is the author of Earth-Wise: A Biblical Response to Environmental Issues, a practical handbook for discussing Christian environmental stewardship in the church.
DeWitt has been influential in many collaborative efforts among evangelicals, scientists and politicians, including the Evangelical Climate Initiative, a statement calling for concerted action to battle global warming.
Among his awards is the 2005 National Wildlife Federation “Connie Award” which recognized his work in bridging environmental science and ethics He has given addresses at more than 70 North American colleges and university and worldwide in such countries as China, Korea, India, Indonesia, Russia and the United Kingdom, most recently at the Faraday Institute for Science at Cambridge University.
Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series honors the late Birkett Williams of Cleveland, Ohio, a 1910 graduate and benefactor of Ouachita. In 1977, Williams established a generous endowment to extend the concepts of a liberal arts education beyond the classroom environment.
After graduation, Williams began a highly successful business career, including ownership of the Williams Ford Agency and Monarch Leasing Company in Cleveland. Under his leadership, Monarch became the largest independent automobile leasing agency in North America. Williams also served as president of the National Automobile Dealers Association. Williams, who died in 1980, said his spirit of philanthropy was generated by his gratitude to Ouachita, which taught him the value of integrity.
Each year, outstanding speakers from diverse professional pursuits are invited to the Ouachita campus as Birkett Williams Lecturers. DeWitt’s lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m., in the McBeth Recital Hall of the Mabee Fine Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public.
