Candace Kant Is New Academic Dean For Cherry Hill Seminary

For Immediate Release
Date: May 17, 2018

Candace Kant, Ph.D., has been named Academic Dean by Cherry Hill Seminary, replacing retired Academic Dean Emerita Wendy Griffin. Read more

Columbia, S.C.–Candace Kant, Ph.D., has been named Academic Dean by Cherry Hill Seminary, replacing retired Academic Dean Emerita Wendy Griffin.

Kant has served as Cherry Hill Seminary Dean of Students since 2012.  She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Ph.D. in History from Northern Arizona University. She has taught history, women’s studies, and religious studies courses at the College of Southern Nevada since 1976, including such classes as the History of Witchcraft, Goddess Traditions, Introduction to Modern Paganism, and Modern Pagan Thought, all of which she developed. After 32 years of teaching Kant retired and was awarded the title Emerita. She developed and taught courses in practical Pagan and Goddess Spirituality at the Temple of Goddess Spirituality dedicated to Sekhmet in Cactus Springs, Nevada and through the College of Southern Nevada Continuing Education. A devotee of Sekhmet, Kant was ordained at the Temple of Goddess Spirituality in 2003 and has served as one of the temple priestesses since 2006.

Candace Kant at right, at the graduation of CHS student Carol Kirk, center, with then Academic Dean Wendy griffin, left.

I am honored to be able to serve the Pagan community in this capacity,” said Dr. Kant. “I have enjoyed serving as

Dean of Students, and now am looking forward to this new challenge. Cherry Hill Seminary is a unique institution, providing quality education and training for the Pagan community and it is a pleasure to be a part of it.”
Originally founded as a private school in Vermont, the Seminary has operated as a nonprofit since 2007, and began offering graduate degrees in ministry and religious studies in 2009. Three students have earned their Master of Divinity, and several dozen have earned certificates, including two individuals who recently earned their Community Ministry Certificate.
The Search Committee included Executive Director Holli Emore, Academic Dean Emerita Wendy Griffin, graduate student Wes Isley, faculty member Christina Beard-Moose, and Board of Directors member Jeffrey Keefer (also an educator). Keefer had this to say:
“We are thrilled with the energy and enthusiasm that Candace brings with her, and after having worked with her as Dean of Students for several years already, I am happy and confident she will bring us fresh ideas for student and faculty involvement, opportunities to reach new audiences, and leadership with expanding our work across the broad spectrum of modern Paganism. We could not do better than having Candace as our new Academic Dean moving forward.”
Executive Director Holli Emore said, “Candace has worked with our students for years now, and she agreed to serve as interim Academic Dean during our search process. We are very fortunate that she threw her hat into the ring. While Wendy’s shoes are large ones to fill, Candace has a lifetime of education and administrative experience and is very committed to Cherry Hill Seminary. She’s always been a joy to work with, and I look forward to continuing that relationship now with her serving in such a vital capacity.”
Kant  assumes her new position immediately.  For more information, contact the office at CHS@cherryhillseminary.org.

Candace Kant at next to right, at the CHS Sacred Land Spiritual Landscapes 2013 symposium at the University of South Carolina (from left, Ronald Hutton, Chas Clifton, Candace Kant and Wendy Griffin)