Rotary learns about Morrison-Novakovic Center

ELKINS -- Dr. Brantley Craig, Davis & Elkins College Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy and Director of the Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith & Public Policy, and Benfield-Vick Chaplain Dr. Franklin Tanner Capps addressed the Rotary Club of Elkins at its regular meeting.

The Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith & Public Policy, located in the yellow brick home on the Sycamore Street side of campus, was established in 2017 with a generous gift from D&E graduate Dr. David Morrison '79, and his wife, Phebe Novakovic. Morrison spent decades working in both the public and private sectors; Novakovic is chair of the board and CEO of General Dynamics, a major American aerospace and defense contractor.

"The center is a living-learning community for students who are interested in the intersection of faith, social issues, public life and policy. We have some students who live in the house and some who don't live in the house but are affiliate members of the center," said Craig.

The students meet weekly with each other and guests from the community. The group shares a meal and there is a speaker each week.

"We've started having semesterly themes. 'Church and Society' was last semester. 'Vocation and Vocational Discernment' is this semester because we have a large contingent of students who are graduating," added Craig.

The weekly speakers are invited by the center's students, Dr. Craig, Dr. Capps or Dr. Morrison.

"A lot of guests are invited by the students as part of the learning part of the living-learning community. They learn to reach out and invite people. We invite people from the D&E community and from the local community, including local pastors and local business owners. We've had people who are involved in local government, the West Virginia state legislature and city government," said Craig. "The students get to learn to listen, to engage deeply with issues and practice civil discourse."

The students have the opportunity to take some special trips. This spring, they traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with an array of government, church, and defense sector luminaries. The students get to meet with special guests of the College, including the annual Phipps lecturer, who is invited to address the campus on topics in the Humanities. The Phipps Lecture planning committee will be meeting later this spring to select the 2026 lecturer.

Each year, the Morrison-Novakovic Center accepts up to 15 students who must apply for the program. The program is open to all majors and students and up to ten upperclassmen may reside in the home, with 5 more students who are connected to the center but non-residential.

"This allows us more diversity. It also allows for students to participate in D&E leadership activities, such as being Resident Assistants," added Craig.

At the beginning of each semester, the students create a "Center Covenant."

"We agree on the values that are going to guide us as we live with each other. We learn with each other, and we talk with each other and our guests throughout the semester," said Craig. "We establish what values are going to guide us as we have our conversations; what values are going to guide us when we use this space together. It starts with a formational community building moment."

There are requirements to participate in the center. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and they must demonstrate leadership in the D&E community. Campus organization presidents and athletic team captains often participate as well as students who are involved in community action and those who have intellectual curiosity about faith and public policy.

"I like to think that groups like this, where students live together, work together, think together, plan things together, are empowering. Center students liked our dinners so much that they started their own occasional 'Tough Talks' series where they invited their peers. Sometimes, they invite faculty and staff people," added Craig. "They took ownership of what it means to get together and have hard talks with your peers."

Capps was installed as the Benfield-Vick Chaplain at D&E in August 2024 after leading the Miller Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Seminary and teaching in the Seminary's Doctor of Ministry program for undergraduates.

"It was my desire to work more deliberately with undergraduates in a liberal arts college setting. The undergraduate years are a formative time in many people's lives," said Capps.

After reading about D&E's Glory Residence Hall dormitory project, Capps thought it was remarkable that a small liberal arts college was able to undertake such a project in today's higher education climate.

"The Morrison-Novakovic Center is special. Normally, these things reside on seminary campuses or major university settings. That's been my experience. Normally, you would find a center like this at a place like UVA or Duke University. We have it right here in Elkins, West Virginia at Davis & Elkins College, a Presbyterian-related institution of higher learning. It's truly remarkable," said Capps.

There has been an expansion of reach for the center since Craig became the director.

"I think the past three years have been a testimony of what that good work looks like when you connect with internal and community partners, and this has happened under Dr. Craig's leadership," concluded Capps. "We respectfully engage one another, reflect, and argue--and what better supplement to a liberal arts college could there be than the Morrison-Novakovic Center."

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club's Facebook page - Rotary Club of Elkins – or contact 2025-2026 club president Phillips Kolsun at phillipskolsun@gmail.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.