Littleton, Colo. – Denver Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Eva Bleeker, assistant professor of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, as the Rev. Dr. Jan McCormack Endowed Chair of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, effective January 1, 2025.

Dr. Bleeker joined Denver Seminary in 2019, bringing a wealth of expertise and experience to her role. She holds an Ed.D. from Baylor University and is board-certified through the Association of Professional Chaplains. Additionally, she earned a Master of Science in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University and two Master of Arts degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary: one in Christian Education and the other in Media and Communication.

“Denver Seminary is thrilled to have Dr. Eva Bleeker as a distinguished member of our faculty,” said Dr. Don Payne, VP of Academic Affairs and academic dean. “Her passion for teaching, commitment to education, and dedication to spiritual care inspire students to embrace God’s unconditional love. Her greatest joy is witnessing students transformed by this truth and equipping them to serve others with compassion and excellence.”

Beyond her academic role, Dr. Bleeker has extensive experience as a hospital chaplain in Texas and Virginia. She has also contributed to church ministries, blending her clinical expertise with spiritual care. A sought-after national presenter in the field of chaplaincy and pastoral care, Dr. Bleeker is dedicated to equipping students and professionals with the skills necessary to provide compassionate, faith-integrated care.

The Rev. Dr. Jan McCormack Endowed Chair of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care honors the legacy of Dr. Jan McCormack, a trailblazer in the field of chaplaincy. A retired Air Force chaplain, Dr. McCormack’s groundbreaking work paved the way for more women within military chaplaincy and beyond. She was instrumental in developing one of the nation’s first Master of Divinity programs with a chaplaincy emphasis at Denver Seminary and co-authored The Work of the Chaplain, a foundational text used nationwide. Dr. McCormack retired from Denver Seminary in December 2024, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, scholarship, and service after 24 years of dedicated contribution.

Endowed chair positions play a vital role in higher education, recognizing the distinction of exceptional faculty while providing additional resources for research and teaching. The Rev. Dr. Jan McCormack Endowed Chair of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care affirms Denver Seminary’s commitment to integrating rigorous clinical training with a strong foundation in Christian faith, equipping students to promote healing and transformation in diverse contexts.

For more information, contact Andrea Weyand, Senior Director of Communications at Denver Seminary, at [email protected] or 720.492.0240.

Denver Seminary is a non-denominational graduate school of theology located in Littleton, Colo. The Seminary’s mission is to prepare men and women to engage the needs of the world with the redemptive power of the gospel and the life-changing truth of Scripture. Established in 1950, Denver Seminary offers on-campus, fully online, and hybrid degree programs, and has an extension campus in Washington DC and a Korean Global Program. In addition, the Seminary offers programming for lay ministry through its Hispanic Programs and Black Church Programs.