Award-winning Alumnus Returns to Teach at Trinity

Philosophy and political science graduate Andrew Van’t Land ’10 enjoyed several professional achievements this fall in the form of winning a writing award and accepting a position at Trinity. As an adjunct professor, Van’t Land teaches both philosophy and political science courses.

In October, Van’t Land won The Jack and Phyllis Middleton Memorial Award for Excellence in Theology at the New Creation Interdisciplinary Theology Conference hosted by the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association (CETA) in Rochester, New York.

Van’t Land’s first-place paper “(Im)Peccability Amid the Principalities: Christ’s Sinlessness in a Culture of Sinful Systems” was originally completed for a graduate class on systematic theology. The paper addresses his interest in the intersection between social/political philosophy and systematic theology.

Returning to Trinity this fall, he joined the philosophy faculty who he said were formational for him during his time at Trinity. “It has been an overwhelming blessing to be back at Trinity,” Van’t Land said. “By far the most significant elements of my time at Trinity were bound up in close relationships with Dr. Aron Reppmann ’92, Dr. Stephen Lake, and Dr. George Pierson, professors of philosophy.”

In August, Van’t Land completed his master’s in social and political philosophy from the Institute for Christian Studies and is now applying to doctoral programs in philosophy for next school year. He said that his graduate education was well supported by the educational foundation he had at Trinity.

“Trinity’s philosophy department prepared me well by offering intimate mentoring, a broad range of classes, and a pair of in-depth senior seminars,” Van’t Land said. “Trinity’s emphasis on developing a Christian worldview helped me grow in my faith and theological beliefs.”

Outside of his career, Van’t Land and his wife Julianne (Woodroof) ’10, eagerly await the arrival of twins next spring.