Corpus Christi May 15, 2019: A hallmark of the faculty at Stark College and Seminary is that they are practitioner-scholars. Many of the SCS faculty members serve as both an adjunct professor and a pastor in a local church. They have the academic credentials to teach in the classroom, but they are also practitioners in that they must embody what they teach everyday in their ministry positions. Our president, Dr. Tony Celelli, likes to say when describing the practitioner-scholar, “They must make work on Sunday what they teach on Thursday.”
In light of this phenomenal calling, SCS had the honor of awarding Dr. Ken Hugghins the 2019 Outstanding Professor of the Year Award at our Corpus Christi Graduation. He exemplified the kind of pastoral leadership SCS seeks to instill in every student.
Dr. Ken Hugghins started teaching for Logsdon Seminary at our Corpus Christi extension in August of 2001. He came to SCS with extensive teaching experience, serving as an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University, Houston Baptist University, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
As a true practitioner-scholar, Dr. Hugghins not only serves in the classroom, he also shepherds Elkins Lake Baptist Church in Huntsville, TX as their pastor for the past 29 years. Since 1973, he has served multiple churches as a youth director, associate pastor, university minister, and minister to young adults. Dr. Hugghins is fully entrenched in ministry and pours all his practical and scholarly knowledge onto and into his students.
“I was fortunate to have Dr. Hugghins as a professor for several of my courses as I pursued my Master of Divinity,” shares SCS Provost Dr. Jena Dunn. “I can tell you from personal experience, he is extremely knowledgeable, energetic, and passionate. Because of his teaching style and approach to the students and the classroom, I am better able to fulfill God’s call on my life.”
SCS exists for the betterment of local churches and their leaders. Without practitioner-scholars like Dr. Hugghins, SCS could not achieve that God-given mandate. We are grateful for the men and women who serve both the church and the students at SCS and are excited to continue seeing these leaders pour into our students.