WCU Graduate Accepted Into Prestigious PhD Program in UK
Hattiesburg, Miss., September 24, 2013 - David "Charles" Laird III of Leakesville, a recent graduate of William Carey University, was recently accepted into a prestigious Ph.D. program in Roman Art and Archaeology at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. Charles, who graduated in May, was WCU's first M.A. graduate for the department of history and social sciences. His master's thesis was the History of the Church in Late Antique Turkey, and he plans for his doctoral project to be an expansion of his thesis.
"One area I would need to focus on for a Ph.D. level dissertation is the archaeological aspects of the church and University of Leicester offers a joint program in Archaeology and Ancient History," Charles said. "In addition to the overall credentials held by Leicester, my doctoral advisor Dr. Neil Christie is a leading expert on Late Roman archaeology, so all things considered, it was the best option to pursue and my top choice of school."
Dr. Mark Nicovich, associate professor of history at WCU, says that this is quite an achievement for Charles and for WCU's graduate program overall. He also points out that there is a tangential connection between WCU and the city of Leicester. William Carey, the university's namesake and the "Father of Modern Missions," was pastor of Harvey Lane Church in Leicester from 1789-1793, just prior to his departure to India.
"I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been accepted into such a distinguished program," Charles said.