Date: July 2, 2026
PJ Hobbs has been Acting Director of the Doctoral Programs since 2024. As he prepares to return to his role as Senior Lecturer and welcome back Ross Kane as Director, the doctoral faculty expresses their gratitude for PJ’s work.
The choice of PJ Hobbs for Interim Director of the Doctoral Programs at VTS was an inspired one. His leadership was intelligent, thoughtful, kind, firm, and committed. His actions and words demonstrated his principal goals — that all students should be able to thrive and do the work successfully and that faculty should also have a thoroughly positive experience, with both groups always being called to high standards of teaching and learning, scholarship, and care for one another.
One of the ordination questions in the Presbyterian Church (USA) tradition is, “Will you serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?” Over the past two years, we in the doctoral programs have witnessed PJ exemplify these values. PJ has been steadfast and supportive, attentive and encouraging to all of us who teach and learn in the program. We are grateful for his service to the seminary and his dedication to our students as he has embraced the role and its challenges with openness and grace.
Without missing a beat, PJ brought stability, focus, and calm to the position – qualities all very much needed in an interim situation. He has also been immensely responsive, be it to staff or students. Throughout, he has carried himself with dignity, integrity, and an untiring commitment to the goals and processes of the Doctoral programs. While he has worked very hard, he has made it all look easy –no simple task!
We have been immensely fortunate to have PJ’s wise guidance and careful leadership. As we welcome back Ross, we can also thank God for the many ways in which PJ has kept the program strong and vibrant, always displaying in his leadership a balance of serious stewardship and a welcome sense of humor.
From all of us: Thank You, PJ!
Jenn Phillips Baker
Director of Educational Technology
VTS Doctoral Programs, Program Coordinator