Center for Faith and Inquiry
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THOMAS ALBERT (TAL) HOWARD, Ph.D.
Professor of History and Director of the Center for Faith and Inquiry

Professor Howard holds a Ph.D. in European intellectual history from the University of Virginia. He is the author or editor of several books and his shorter writings have appeared in numerous academic and general-interest periodicals.

| 978.867.4396
Office: CFI House, entrance level

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debbie

DEBBIE DROST
Center for Faith and Inquiry Program Manager

Debbie Drost has been on staff at the Center since 2001, when it was the Center for Christian Studies. She administers grants, plans conferences, events and other programs including the annual Gordon College Spring Symposium for students. She was program coordinator for the Northeast Science and Religion Course Program, a John Templeton Foundation program housed at Gordon College (1997-2000). She served with the English Language Institute/CHINA at the Sichuan College of Education in Chengdu, China (1984-85). Debbie and her husband Roger serve with the Peace and Hope Trust, a nonprofit organization committed to providing relief and development in remote regions of Nicaragua, where he is U.S. Field Director. Her two sons are Gordon alumni.

 | 978.867.4365
Office: CFI House, entrance level


ryan

M. RYAN GROFF, M.A.
Jerusalem and Athens Forum Program Coordinator 
Adjunct Professor 

Ryan is an alumnus of the Jerusalem and Athens Forum ('05–'06) and Gordon College ('06). He has worked at Gordon since 2007 and currently serves the programing needs of the JAF honors program, supports the research needs of the director, and previously managed the Critical Loyalty Project, a $2.5M grant from the Lilly Endowment. He completed an M.A. in Theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and began teaching theology and first-year seminar courses at Gordon College in 2010. His wife Laurie (Arnold) Groff ('06) coaches swimming and instructs Hebrew students at the college. They live in Beverly, MA with their three children, Micah, Simon, and Anabelle.

| 978.867.4227
Office: CFI House, upper level