Craig Kocher

Rev. Dr. Craig Kocher is University chaplain at the University of Richmond and Jessie Ball duPont Chair of the Office of the Chaplaincy. He is the third chaplain of the University, which had its first chaplain in 1973. Kocher began serving at the University of Richmond in August 2009.

Role at University of Richmond
Kocher was installed as University Chaplain during a service in Cannon Memorial Chapel in October 2009. During the service, he defined his role on campus as “inspiring generous faith; engaging the heart of the university.”. This became the core of the Office of the Chaplaincy's Strategic Plan. In addition to his roles as chaplain, he also serves on campus as an academic advisor, faculty member, and is an ex officio member of the Student Development deans and directors. Kocher delivered the invocation prior to President Obama’s speech in the Robins Center in September 2011. Before coming to the University of Richmond, he served as the assistant dean, then acting dean, and finally associate dean of the Chapel and director of religious life at Duke University. After graduating from divinity school, he served as a campus minister to Davidson College and associate pastor at Davidson United Methodist Church.

Publications
His sermons and essays have been published in The Christian Century, The Feasting on the Word commentary series, Faith and Leadership, and Pulpit Resource. Kocher also has a semi-regular column on faith and values in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Education
He received his Bachelor of Arts in American History from UNC-Chapel Hill, a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School, and his Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary. He is an ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.