On March 26, 2025, Laura Bridgewater, dean of the College of Life Sciences, presented her lecture “Integrating Faith” at the Inspiring Teaching Workshop. She discussed with faculty the importance and outcomes of being called to teach students in a spiritually strengthening way.
Bridgewater opened by sharing her journey of how she came to BYU, as a way to encourage participants to reflect on how God’s hand played a part in their own path to this university. After sharing, Bridgewater invited each table to share with each other their stories of coming to BYU.
“The idea of God’s hand in bringing us here plays a major role in our willingness and our desire to make our teaching spiritually strengthening,” Bridgewater said.
When Bridgewater first became the dean of the College of Life Sciences, she wanted to do something to acknowledge the effort professors were making in creating a strengthening environment. After discussing with her team, the College of Life Sciences initiated the Spiritually Strengthening Professor Award.
At the end of each semester, students nominate a professor within the college by answering the prompt: “How does this professor create a spiritually strengthening environment? Please describe exactly what they do and how it has affected you.”
Bridgewater put the student nominations into common categories or themes and shared many student responses. The common categories or themes were:
1. Structured messages.
Experiences where the faculty member has built a practice into the structure of their class. One student said their professor “dedicates the first few minutes of every class to a Christ-centered story, video, or talk, and he invites us to reflect on how our lives are emulating His life and mission.”
2. Casual references to the gospel.
Instances students perceive as being more spontaneous, although they may or may not actually be. One student commented, “He explains science in a way that connects it to the gospel. I have always had a hard-time reconciling gospel teachings with my passion for science, but he helps connect them in a very meaningful way.”
3. Effect on students.
Student experiences where they were personally affected. One student reported their professor’s “respect, compassion, and encouragement has helped me feel like I belong in this program, and I can succeed.”
4. Model Christlike behavior.
Moments when a faculty member shows Christlike behavior separately from what they teach. A student shared, “Last year I was hit by a car going very fast while I was crossing the street. For the next few weeks, I was in recovery. Dr. X would check up on me nearly daily and offered help a countless number of times. She taught me what the spirit of ministering is.”
Bridgewater closed with two takeaways. “First, a recognition that God brought you here to BYU, and part of the reason he brought you here, is because you are capable of teaching your subject. The second thing is an increased sense of confidence in your own ability to do things.
“If you’re teaching students here at BYU and trying to do it in a spiritually strengthening way, you are on the Lord’s errand,” Bridgewater said. “I promise you: help will come as you seek inspiration about how to accomplish this aspect of your ministry as a disciple of Christ.”
Click below to watch the full workshop given by Bridgewater.