Project Director

CALVIN MERCER

Abbreviated Public Service CV

CITY COUNCIL CONTACT

Greenville, NC City Council, District 4

City of Greenville

P. O. Box 7207

Greenville, NC 27834

abpqjf@r.postjobfree.com

252-***-**** (home)

WORK CONTACT

Religious Studies Program

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC 27858-4353

abpqjf@r.postjobfree.com

www.ecu.edu/religionprogram/mercer

252-***-**** (office & VM)

252-***-**** (fax)

GREENVILLE, NC CITY COUNCIL

Elected Representatiave: District 4, 12/07-present

Liaison: Board of Adjustment (12/07-12/09), Environmental Advisory

Commission (12/07-12/09), Historic Preservation Commission (12/07-

present), Planning and Zoning Commission (12/09-present), Bike and

Pedestrian Commission (12/09-present)

TEACHING, ADMINISTRATION AND RESEARCH (email abpqjf@r.postjobfree.com for a

complete work CV)

Teaching

East Carolina University: Professor of Religion, 8/10-present; Associate

Professor of Religion, 8/90-7/10; Assistant Professor of Religion, 1/85-5/90;

Graduate Faculty appointment, full member, 8/94 -present.

Mount Olive College: Professor of Religion, 1/81-12/84.

Florida A & M University: Instructor of Religion, half-time, 8/79-12/80

The Monastic Project: I am the originator of The Monastic Project, a

comprehensive program used by me and other professors around the

country. Guidelines are drawn from various monastic traditions. In addition

to traditional religious experience, the Project can yield other transformative

religious outcomes, such as improved mental and physical health,

clarification of life goals and purpose, improved relationships, increased

awareness, and better sleep. For more information, see my work website

(www.ecu.edu/religionprogram/mercer).

Study Abroad: For several years I directed the largest study abroad

program at East Carolina University, and I serve as a consultant on

producing successful short-term study abroad programs. Programs

were conducted in Belize, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, and

Spain.

Teaching Awards

University Scholar-Teacher Award

UNC Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award

Administration

East Carolina University: Multidisciplinary Studies Program, Director, 1/98-

present;

East Carolina University: Religious Studies Program, Director, 8/89-12/05;

Co-Director, 1/06-5/09

Research

Nature Based Tourism GIS Asset Mapping: Finding a Path for Eco-Tourism.

Co-author, with Alex Naar (primary presenter) and Huili Hao (co-presenter

and co-author). National Extension Tourism, Charleston, SC, 3/11

Most of my research (4 books authored or edited, 25 articles) is in the

religious implications of human enhancement technologies (including radical

life extension science), psychology of religion, and Biblical Studies.

I am one of the few scholars considering the religious implications of

human enhancement technologies, including radical life extension, a

term that refers to science and technology that could provide extreme

longevity of healthy human life. I co-edited Religion and the

Implications of Radical Life Extension, published in 2009 by Palgrave

Macmillan and am working on a related volume. W hether such science

should proceed or not is a legitimate question. I want to promote,

among academics and faith communities, substantive reflection on this

question, which I consider one of the most urgent public debates that

needs to happen in this country.

Other

Therapist: I am trained in clinical psychology and practiced

professionally part-time for over a decade.

COMMUNITY SERVICE (representative list)

Advisory Committee, Pitt County Memorial Hospital School of Clinical

Pastoral Education, Greenville, NC, 3/09-present

Ayden-Grifton-Winterville Mental Health Advisory Board, Ayden, NC; 1/94-

12/99; member, served on various subcommittees

Johnston County Harbor Rape and Spouse Abuse Network; 8/88-5/91; co-

founder, Board of Directors Chair

Contact Helpline, Smithfield, NC; 5/84-9/91; Board of Directors, president

Approximately 50 articles on various topics published in general readership

publications.

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Maintains a local and regional Events mailing list, providing information

about religion-related cultural and/or academic area events. For more

information or to get on the list, email abpqjf@r.postjobfree.com

Note: As my schedule permits, I give public lectures on the religious implications of

human enhancement technologies (including radical life extension science), humor

in the Bible, monks and monasteries, religion and politics, and other topics. For a

full list, see my work website or contact me for a full CV.

EDUCATION

East Carolina University: M.A. (Clinical Psychology), 1997

Florida State University: Ph.D. (Religion), 1983

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary: M.Div. (cum laude), 1977; Th.M.,

1979

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: B.A. (Journalism and Psychology),

1975

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