Dr. Philip Mitchell Receives the Piper Outstanding Professor Award

Each year, Dallas Baptist University honors one professor who displays the heart of a servant leader both in and out of the classroom. DBU proudly recognized Dr. Philip Mitchell as the 2024 Piper Outstanding Professor of the Year. Dr. Mitchell was honored with the prestigious award in recognition of his unwavering dedication to his students and the University Honors Program, as well as his exceptional authorship and scholarly contributions, all of which reflect the passion and commitment he brings as both a professor and director.

Growing up, Dr. Mitchell didn't see himself attending college after high school. In fact, he worked for two years following graduation before making the ultimate decision to attend college. Dr. Mitchell grew up in a hardworking, blue-collar family in the Pleasant Grove area located in the southeastern section of Dallas. His father worked as a meat packer before transitioning to a line clearance tree trimmer. While taking his lunch, Dr. Mitchell would sit in the bucket truck reading Philosophy Made Simple by Avrum Stroll and Richard Popkin, learning about some of the greatest thinkers in history. It was during this time that a church group leader planted a seed in him to think beyond the life he knew, suggesting that perhaps higher education was something worth pursuing. Little did he know, this would set him on a path to becoming a professor.

Dr. Mitchell was raised in the church and made his first commitment to faith in first grade. However, he continued to seek a deeper understanding of what it truly meant to live out his faith. In the fifth grade, Dr. Mitchell recommitted himself to the Lord; however, it was ultimately in the 9th grade, Dr. Mitchell shares, that he took his faith more seriously. In high school, Dr. Mitchell was an active member of a Christian group that met on campus. Together with a dedicated group of 15 students, he gathered in a chemistry teacher's classroom to openly discuss and deepen their understanding of faith.

Dr. Mitchell recalls how the football team's quarterback became a Christian and began preaching during their group meetings. What began as a small group of 15 students quickly grew into a gathering of 100. The group's rapid growth caught the attention of Dallas ISD, and since it was illegal at that time for students to meet for religious purposes on public school grounds, the district swiftly shut it down.

During his time working after high school and discussions and prayer, Dr. Mitchell decided to attend DBU with friends from his high school. This was a significant shift for someone who had never seriously considered academia before, and he didn't stop there. After graduating from DBU in 1991, Dr. Mitchell went to Southwestern Theological Seminary to pursue a Master of Divinity. During his studies at Southwestern, he met his wife at the church they both attended, while she was completing her degree in social work.

In the middle of his studies at Southwestern, the Lord led him in a different direction, and Dr. Mitchell found himself wanting to pursue humanities studies. After obtaining his Master of Divinity from Southwestern, Dr. Mitchell then attended Baylor University, where he earned his Master's and Ph.D. in Literature. It was at Baylor that he deepened his academic interests and solidified his desire to teach. Dr. Mitchell's life in academia was beginning, but his journey was far from over. As fate would have it, a teaching position opened up at DBU. Dr. Mitchell jumped at the opportunity, transitioning from student to teacher at the very institution that had set his academic journey in motion.

As an English professor, Dr. Mitchell taught a broad range of subjects—from freshman composition to British and American literature. His passion for literature and teaching was undeniable. However, in 2005, he found himself drawn into an even greater role when the University decided to establish an honors program. Initially, Dr. Mitchell had no intention of stepping into an administrative position, but circumstances soon led him to reconsider. "I was finishing my dissertation and just starting my career," he shares. At first, it didn't seem like an option, but after much discussion with others, it became clear that he should put his name forward for the role.

Now, twenty years later, Dr. Mitchell continues to lead the honors program, which has become a cornerstone of his work at DBU. The program offers students a unique opportunity to explore deep ideas across disciplines—philosophy, literature, theology, history, and art—within a smaller, more discussion-based setting. In its early stages, Dr. Mitchell oversaw the development of the curriculum, creating opportunities for students to engage with ideas that would prepare them for future leadership.

The University Honors Program stands as one of the many remarkable accomplishments of Dr. Mitchell's tenure at DBU. As director, he hosts weekly Friday Symposiums and collaborates with several honors professors to fulfill the program's goals and to build students into strong, thoughtful leaders. The students face challenging interdisciplinary work, which provides them with enriching experiences across various fields of study.

In addition to his role as the University Honors Program Director, Dr. Mitchell is an accomplished scholar who regularly writes and publishes research. He has contributed chapters to books and authored numerous articles that reflect the depth of his academic work. Beyond these publications, Dr. Mitchell is also the author of The Shared Witness of C.S. Lewis and Austin Farrer (Kent State University Press, 2021), which examines the intellectual relationship between two of the 20th century's most influential Christian thinkers. This book offers a nuanced and in-depth study of C.S. Lewis and Austin Farrer, exploring how the two collaborated in defending the concept of a "metaphysically thick" universe in contrast to the growing secularism of their time.

Through all these experiences—his upbringing in Pleasant Grove, his unexpected academic path, his growth as a scholar, and his deepening faith—Dr. Mitchell has stayed true to his calling. Unexpected turns have shaped his life and career, but he has always embraced the changes, trusting that each step is part of a larger plan. His work at DBU, teaching both in the classroom and the honors program, has become more than just a job; it's a calling.

Reflecting on his time at DBU, Dr. Mitchell is proud not just of his academic achievements but also of the community he has built and the students he has mentored. As he nears his 24th year at the University, he remains committed to his mission, always striving to do his best, even when things don't go as planned. His journey is a testament to the power of unexpected paths, and to the ways in which life often leads us to exactly where we need to be.