Young Teacher Award
Karen Carr, 1989
"Karen Carr, you have quickly established yourself as one of Lawrence's most promising teachers. Having received your Ph.D. in religious studies from Stanford University, you have assumed the task at Lawrence of teaching courses in the history of Christianity and modern religious thought. You have unraveled the confounding knots of early Christian doctrine; introduced to your students modern critiques of religion; explored the relations among politics, theology, and culture; and explained the thought of those two most favored gentlemen, Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. In public lectures and in your own research you have pursued the theme of nihilism in religious and philosophical thought--searching out its origins in the 19th century and its influence on deconstruction and other dangers in the 20th century. With both wit and patience you make these ideas accessible to all.
On this day when Latin is the native tongue, I conclude with the title of one of your articles, Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit, 'Out of nothing, comes nothing,' which in recognition of your style should read E Pluribus Plus Fit, 'Out of Many Things Comes More.' Karen Carr, we are delighted to honor you today as an outstanding young teacher of the Lawrence faculty."