Moravian University names Dr. Katherine Mary Faull Founding Executive Director, Institute for Moravian History and World Heritage
Faull is a leading global authority on Moravian history, theology, and cultural heritage
BETHLEHEM, PA – April 22, 2025: Moravian University has announced that Dr. Katherine Mary Faull has been named Founding Executive Director, the Institute for Moravian History and World Heritage. A distinguished scholar with more than three decades of research and teaching experience, Dr. Faull has established herself as a leading global authority on Moravian history, theology, and cultural heritage.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Katherine Faull to Moravian University as the founding executive director of this institute dedicated to sharing and preserving Moravian history,” said Bryon Grigsby, president of Moravian University. “Katherine’s expertise in Moravian history and her passion for interdisciplinary learning align perfectly with our mission to foster academic exploration and global engagement.”
The Institute for Moravian History and World Heritage at Moravian University will advance understanding and appreciation of Moravian history and culture’s universal human values through academic research, educational programs, and public engagement.
Building on the World Heritage inscription of Moravian Church Settlements, the Institute will foster connections between past and present, promote cultural preservation, collaborate with related sites, and engage in interdisciplinary research and education while supporting academic research and publications about the Moravian Church’s contributions to world culture.
Dr. Faull previously served as professor of German and humanities and associate provost for local and global engagement at Bucknell University, where she led initiatives in digital humanities and Moravian studies, internationalization, and the environmental and cultural history of the Susquehanna River, working with the National Parks Service to contribute to the designation of the Susquehanna River as a National Historic Trail.
Her scholarly work includes groundbreaking books such as Moravian Women’s Memoirs: Their Related Lives 1750–1820 (Syracuse University Press), Speaking to Body and Soul: Instructions for the Moravian Choir Helpers 1785–86 (Penn State University Press), and Cultures at the Susquehanna Confluence: The Diaries of the Moravian Mission to the Iroquois Confederacy 1745–55 (Penn State University Press). Faull’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing the Institute for Moravian History and World Heritage.
“I am honored to join Moravian University and look forward to collaborating with faculty, students, and the broader community,” said Faull. “The university’s dedication to academic innovation and its rich Moravian heritage provide an exciting foundation for meaningful scholarship and engagement.”
Dr. Faull holds a PhD in German Literature from Princeton University, an MA from King’s College, University of London, and a BA (Hons.) in German/Russian from King’s College, University of London. She is fluent in English and German with proficiency in several other languages.
For more information, visit moravian.edu/institute-moravian-worldheritage