Casey Cole says goodbye to Lee University
All photos by Isaac Vacheresse
At the end of the 2021 fall semester, Casey Cole announced her time at Lee University has come to an end.
Since her arrival at Lee, Cole’s title changed from part-time, to adjunct, special adjunct, visiting lecturer and finally, to lecturer in theology. As a professor, Cole said she has been both invested in and inspired by her students.
“The creativity that I see in students across our campus gives me energy,” said Cole. “I am able to see things in students that I would have never thought of on my own.”
Cole’s teaching style is primarily class discussion, “not simply theory.”
“The time I spend with students and their deep questions and life experiences, it keeps me empathetic, it keeps me in touch with real-world issues. It keeps my theology grounded, and I am really thankful for that,” said Cole.
Lee is recognized for its hands-on faculty, and Cole believes the student body “mirrors that difference,” which sets Lee apart from other schools.
In each of her positions, Cole said her career has always been shaped by students, particularly during the fall of 2017 when Hurricane Harvey destroyed Texas. Cole encouraged her students to donate feminine products to Operation Compassion, a local parachurch ministry which was collecting donations to transport to Texas in response to the hurricane. Cole said her students shocked her by donating over 350 items in support.
“It set a tone in my mind with Lee students — you don’t ever have to beg them to help,” said Cole. “It showed me the sphere of influence I had, which taught me to take it with great responsibility.”
Cole later exercised her influence in 2020 when she launched the Help Casey Cole Project, a service initiative which sought to help provide funding for international students in financial need. Cole was encouraged by the student involvement in the project.
Cole strives to encourage students to form a personal grasp of faith in Christ, and said she is proud and humbled every semester when she sees a student come to know Jesus through her Intro to Theology course.
“...that is never, ever lost on me,” said Cole. “What I get to do here is not just training and maturing the intellect, but I get to help students shape their spiritual lives.”
In addition to her courses and service projects, Cole has been involved in various social areas of Lee, including the Gateway program. Cole values the freshman program and the opportunities to speak to dormitories on various topics. Cole has also been featured at many campus club events, specifically working with the Boys and Girls club and Delight Ministries.
“I have always thought about this job as my ministry,” said Cole. “I hope what I’ve done at Lee is help students connect their hearts and their minds.”
Cole is grateful for the support and friendships she has found in colleagues within the School of Religion. Cole said she has formed special relationships through the university and has been shown kindness and care not only to her career, but to her personal life as well.
“For people who are such deep, theological thinkers to be your friends, that has been just a wonderful part of my life,” said Cole.
Cole was influenced by Dr. Skip Jenkins during graduate school and her early career at Lee. Cole said she is indebted to Jenkins for encouraging her to lead a classroom and form the curriculum.
Additionally, Cole was mentored by Dr. Rickie Moore during her time at Lee. Moore often reminded Cole her studies of the heart were “worthwhile.”
“He is the king of theology,” Cole said of Moore. “He made me believe it was possible to do truly academic work at a high standard without lessening anything, but still got to the matters of the heart.”
Moore serves as the theology associate dean and professor of Old Testament, and emphasizes the integration of head and heart learning within the School of Religion. Moore said he met Cole in his biblical interpretation graduate class and he immediately recognized Cole as “very insightful” and passionate about the church within her studies.
“Across the whole university, we have a mission here to develop not only minds of academic skills but to develop lives, God and the kingdom of God,” said Moore. “Casey, as a graduate student, was integrating all that in a beautiful way, and I noticed that about her right away. She was the rare student that was already demonstrating that integration in ways that were beyond the normal student.”
Through Cole’s transition from student to colleague, Moore shared the joy of supporting her as she further developed her discussion and calling within Pentecostal studies. Moore specifically mentioned Cole’s “cutting edge” writings on orthopathic readings of the Bible and becoming a “pioneer” for its scholarship.
“I’ve watched her not only raised up in the School of Religion and in the Society for Pentecostal Studies, but also in the larger university,” said Moore. “It’s been very gratifying to see her invited to speak in chapel services, and it says something about the favor she has, not just in an insulated circle, but virtually everywhere she goes.”
Teaching in the School of Religion has presented an opportunity for Cole to teach a course required for all Lee students. Although she acknowledged most students would be taking the course solely to fulfill a university-wide requirement, Cole sought to make Intro to Theology engaging and enjoyable.
“I know this is a required course. I know you have to be here, so I am going to make it worth your time,” said Cole.
A previous student, sophomore nursing major Abigail Bayles, said Cole’s course was very influential in her faith.
“[Cole’s] wisdom and guidance have reached beyond the four walls of our classroom,” said Bayles. “She has enabled me to evaluate my relationship with the Lord, and know how to further strengthen it. She reminds me that it is a personal relationship and that there isn't such a thing as a perfect Christian or a ‘good enough’ Christian. She encourages me to have a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord, and gives me all the tools, time and space that she can to make that happen.”
Cole said the decision to leave Lee came after a long process of seeking discernment as she enters the next phase of life and pursues new experiences.
“Over six months, God began to change my heart and show me different things,” said Cole.
In departing from the School of Religion, Cole hopes to leave room for a more diverse program, including more people of color and female faculty members. Cole also hopes the Intro to Theology course continues to be inclusive and well-loved by the students at Lee.
“I think Intro to Theology brings some cohesion to our campus,” said Cole. “It gives a common experience to our students.”
Cole also hopes the presence and engagement of the theology major will grow. After Lee, Cole is turning her attention to cultivating a home and pursuing future career endeavors. Cole hopes to continue writing, teaching and preaching within a parachurch organization in the near future. Currently, Cole is acknowledging her new transition and appreciating the undetermined change.
“I think that experiencing that uncertainty about the future has given me a greater compassion for students,” said Cole.
Cole said she is thankful for the position she has held and the opportunity to watch students grow in their studies and their lives.
“The most rewarding experience of the classroom here at Lee is getting to watch those ‘lightbulb’ moments happen in students,” said Cole. “Specifically when students realize that Christianity is bigger than they thought it was, and that means there is room in the church for them. That is my favorite part of my job.”
