3800 Lindell Boulevard

Adorjan Hall, Room 124

St. Louis, MO 63108-3414
Phone: 314-977-2878
Fax: 314-977-2947
www.slu.edu

Department of
Theological Studies

April 17, 2018

Faculty Letter of Support for Professor Benjamin Winter

Benjamin Winter will complete his work for the Certificate in University Teaching Skills at the
Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching during the spring semester of 2018. I have served as
his mentor in this program, and have been asked to review his work and assess his potential for
teaching. It is a pleasure to do so.

In fall, 2015, Ben and I began a conversation on theology and pedagogy that continues until
today. From the beginning of our interactions I have admired Ben’s striking energy, his
enthusiasm and his insight. His willingness to expand his skills in teaching has resulted in
proven, effective skills in reaching students. I have seen his work both formally with our
undergraduates, in the classroom, and informally, watching his interactions with them in a
variety of contexts. Thus I have seen firsthand that his combination of serious attention to
theological reasoning and passion for expressing his material well are readily received by his
students.

Ben’s enthusiasm is marked by a style of ongoing Socratic interaction that is in play when he is
around students. They are drawn in by his insights and questions, and find themselves
encouraged to express their own. Several semesters ago, I had the opportunity to regularly see
his work as a teaching assistant. I taught a class near the large lecture hall where he was an
assistant, and often saw him interacting with students. During that semester, I observed the
course’s overflow discussions on a number of topics, and saw Ben’s clear ability to help students
think through complex issues. I saw them seek him out for answers to their questions, and for a
chance to take the class themes to deeper discussions.

These informal observations were confirmed when I more recently observed his work as a
lecturer in his own course. Even when using a formal lecture format, Professor Winter presented
an engaging style. In-depth preparation was evident in the composition and delivery of his
central points, as he gave a sophisticated overview of church history. Powerpoint can be used
well or poorly; Professor Winter’s use of it focused the students’ reflection during the session
well, not substituting for what he was delivering, but creating connections to the ideas of his
lecture. His practice of making the Powerpoint material available to students allows them to
prepare well for studying and is a valuable resource for reviewing lectures. The flow of his
material and its central argument were the work of significant reflection and ordering of his
lecture themes, which were delivered in a style that made them accessible to undergraduate
students. After watching him lecture, I can attest that he is very much able to present serious
scholarship to undergraduate students in a clear, compelling, and engaging way. His preparation
for classroom work and his delivery are state of the art.

A year ago, I observed Ben’s presentation at Saint Louis University’s annual Graduate Student
Association Research Symposium. When delivering a paper to a peer group of graduate students
and professors, he showed the same keen ability to analyze a complex thesis and deliver his
argument in a clear, effective way. Ben’s resume will show his strong academic achievements
while a doctoral student in Theological Studies here. What I can add to this list of papers and
presentations is the observation that his ability to communicate in such contexts ranks among the
best of his peers. I know few others among our doctoral students who have given the same
careful thought, and ongoing practice and reflection, to the skills of pedagogy and the task of
communicating the complex ideas that are part of our work.

Throughout the time I have served as Ben’s mentor, we have had many discussions about
teaching. He readily seeks advice on improving his techniques and managing his courses. He is
thoroughly dedicated to strong habits of preparation and professionalism. He has used the tools
of the CUTS program well. In reviewing his teaching philosophy it is clear that Ben has been
thinking about teaching since his own years as an undergraduate, and even earlier as a high
school student, and that his expertise has been forged through reflecting on the work of both
great educators and his own experience. More than most graduate students with whom I have
worked, he is a student of the art of pedagogy. He has the instincts of a caring teacher. As he
describes his own attitude, he relates that, before interacting with students, “I always ask myself,
‘What would be most helpful if I were hearing about this for the first time?’” His desire to create
a classroom where students can raise and wrestle with honest questions is, in my experience, a
vital foundation for student growth and learning, and for the mature study of college level
courses in the humanities. A central theme in our work as teachers at Saint Louis University is a
commitment to cura personalis, the genuine care of our students. Ben Winter’s commitment to
this goal is exemplary.

I whole heartedly recommend Professor Benjamin Winter for reception of the Certificate in
University Teaching Skills from the SLU Reinert Center. He is well prepared and has proven
well his ability to teach at the college and university level. His natural gifts, his developed
talents and strategies, and his proven work ethic will make him a valued colleague on any
faculty. His enthusiasm and keen interest in his students’ learning will continue to make a
foundational difference in their lives. I hope potential employers will give him the highest
consideration for a position. If I can be of any further assistance in the evaluation of his
credentials, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,

Daniel J Finucane, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Theological Studies
314-977-2874
dan.j.finucane@slu.edu