Dr. Ashley Boggan Appointed Affiliate Assistant Research Professor of Methodist Studies at Perkins School of Theology
DALLAS (SMU) — Perkins School of Theology at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøMethodist University has appointed Dr. Ashley Boggan as Affiliate Assistant Research Professor of Methodist Studies, effective June 1, 2025.
Boggan earned her Ph.D. in American religious history from Drew Theological School in 2017, with concentrations in Wesleyan/Methodist studies and women/gender studies. She joins Perkins while continuing her role as General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church.
Bryan P. Stone, Leighton K. Farrell Endowed Dean at Perkins School of Theology, expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment.
“I am delighted that Dr. Ashley Boggan has agreed to serve as an affiliate faculty member with Perkins School of Theology,” Stone said. “As General Secretary of Archives and History for the United Methodist Church, Dr. Boggan further cements Perkins’ reputation as an exciting and vital center for Wesleyan and Methodist studies, and her expertise will greatly benefit our students, faculty, and researchers here at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøMethodist University.”
In line with its mission to prepare future leaders with tools for a changing society, Perkins welcomes Boggan as a key member of its affiliate faculty, where she will share her scholarly expertise and historical insight with the Perkins community.
“If we are going to remain relevant in the 21st century, we need to take some lessons from our past,” Boggan said. “As a historian, I hope to remind all of us of the bright spots and institutional sins of the Methodist/Wesleyan traditions. By learning these, naming them, and repenting for them, we can hopefully move forward in the way that John Wesley would have envisioned for us.”
This appointment also continues a cherished family legacy at SMU: her father earned both his M.Div. and D.Min. at Perkins, and her mother holds a Master of Sacred Music and a Master of Vocal Performance from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts.
“I hope to bring a renewed love for Wesley/Methodism and the Wesleyan/Methodist social witness in the world,” Boggan added. “I'm a giant ‘Metho-nerd’ and hope to convert more Perkins folks to being ‘Metho-nerds’ as well.”
An accomplished author, Boggan has published numerous works, including Wesleyan Vite-Tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity (Abingdon Press) and a forthcoming title this fall, Calling on Fire: Reclaiming the Method of Methodism (Abingdon Press).
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, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studiesat SMU'sof Humanities and Sciences.