Campus Currents

Circuits to Shakespeare:
New Ph.D.s Research Diverse Topics

Gregory Dodds, assistant professor of history, defended his dissertation “‘Curtains of Peace and Charity:’ The Humanist Theology of Desiderius Erasmus in England, c. 1550-1650,” completing his doctoral degree in history from Claremont Graduate University. His dissertation examines how the Erasmian theological language of Christian peace, love, and religious tolerance was manipulated by the English church to maintain religious conformity and marginalize those who did not conform. It also helps to explain how the vitriolic religious controversies in Reformation England eventually contributed to the English Civil War.

Paul Dybdahl, assistant professor of theology, defended his dissertation, “The Stairway to Heaven: A Critique of the Traditional Evangelical Gospel Presentation in North America,” to complete his doctoral degree in missiology from Andrews University. His dissertation surveys the spiritual viewpoints of contemporary Americans and, using conversion stories in Luke and Acts as resources, suggests ways to more effectively communicate the plan of salvation in North America today.

Marilynn Loveless, assistant professor of communications, received top marks of distinction for her dissertation, “Mrs. Shakespeare: Recovering a Lost Life,” completing her doctoral program in the School of Arts at Griffith University in Australia. Her dissertation is a fictocritical narrative telling the story of how Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, acquired the skills, education and experience to write the works appropriated by her husband. The fifth chapter of her dissertation has been accepted for publication in the “International Journal of Learning.”

Curtis Nelson, associate professor of engineering in the School of Engineering, defended his dissertation in August to receive his doctoral degree from the University of Utah. His dissertation, “Technology Mapping of Timed Asynchronous Circuits,” focuses on investigating methods for implementing clockless circuits using deep submicron technologies currently in use. “Clockless circuits have the potential for exceeding the performance of today’s synchronous (clocked) designs,” says Nelson, “which are typically used in high-speed computer systems.” W

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