Dave Daily, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religion
Ph.D., Duke University
M.Div., Yale University
B.A., Ouachita Baptist University
Office: 211 Walton Fine Arts Center
Phone: (479) 979-1456
E-Mail: ddaily@ozarks.edu
When you meet Dr. Daily for the first time, you immediately notice his friendly, easy-going disposition. He joined the Ozarks faculty in 2000 as Assistant Professor of Religion, and has quickly been accepted by students and fellow faculty members. He gives credit for his career choice to his own college teachers, saying, "They became models for how I wanted to teach and learn by investing themselves in the lives of their students." His family background also played a role in his career choice, although not quite in the way you might expect. He grew up stacking lumber at his father's sawmill, and that, he says, "put him in a fine frame of mind for staying in school." Asked what he likes best about Ozarks, Dr. Daily says, "I enjoy being at a place where I can know the students and appreciate what they are doing outside the classroom as well."
Dr. Daily's approach to teaching religion focuses on thoughtful discussions of religious ideas and issues. He says, "The study of religion is far more than mere opinions on the one hand or 'right and wrong answers' on the other. Instead, it helps us better understand why we see the world the way we do, and why we might care about making it better." He hopes this approach will show students that it is vital to maintain a lifelong interest in learning, and encourage them to refuse to become complacent in what they already know. He also likes to arrange face-to-face conversations with people of different faiths whenever possible. In Spring 2003, his Religion in America class visited the Lao Buddhist Temple in Fort Smith for their New Year's festival, and in Fall 2004, the university won a grant to bring in a visiting Muslim scholar from Saudi Arabia. These opportunities help students move beyond religious stereotypes and enter into genuine dialogue for learning.
Asked what he has learned in his first few semesters at Ozarks, Dr. Daily answered, "Students have taught me how to be a better teacher. In most places, students would be afraid to offer suggestions to their professors. But at Ozarks, students have begun to see that we are serious about their input. Last year, for example, one student suggested that the Old Testament class might run a discussion on whether the Ten Commandments should be posted on public buildings such as schools and courtrooms. And now, that debate is a part of the course."
In his spare time, Dr. Daily enjoys reading, bicycling, and hiking the area trails with his wife Teri and their children, Emma and Wilson. Would he change anything if he could be 18 again? "I'm too young to be answering that question!" he laughingly answers.
