David Holmes to speak at baccalaureate service

David L. Holmes The Walter G. Mason Professor of Religious Studies will will serve as the speaker at William & Mary's baccalaureate service on May 15. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

by Staff | May 13, 2010

David Holmes, Walter G. Mason Professor of Religious Studies, will serve as the speaker at William & Mary's baccalaureate service on May 15. The service will take place at 9:30 a.m. in William and Mary Hall.

Holmes has taught at William & Mary for 45 years. His areas of specialization include American religious history, liberal-arts education, architecture and worship, muscular Christianity and World War II. He was one of the founding members of the College’s department of religious studies and is renowned scholar and author.

He has received numerous awards for his work throughout the years, including the Society of the Alumni Faculty Service Award, the Outstanding Faculty Award of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Thomas Ashley Graves Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching and William & Mary’s Thomas Jefferson Award.

Holmes has contributed to dozens of volumes and publications and authored several acclaimed books, including “The Faiths of the Founding Fathers.” He is currently working on his fifth book, which addresses the religious beliefs of America’s post-World War II presidents.