ECU religious studies professor awarded college’s highest honor

Dr. Calvin Mercer, an East Carolina University professor with more than four decades of service in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, is setting the course and imparting bold, impactful knowledge about the religious and social considerations of a future of human existence that goes beyond our current understanding. His research delves into artificial intelligence and human technological enhancement, or the ability to apply advances in medical science and biomedical technology to humans that could theoretically prolong or indefinitely extend life.

Due to his impressive career of teaching, research, creative activity and professional service, Mercer has been named the 27th Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor. The college’s distinguished professorship is the highest honor given to a faculty member, and although special honors that go along with the professorship are given only during the academic year that a professor is recognized, the title lasts a lifetime. This year’s announcement was made at the college’s 63rd annual convocation on Aug. 14.

“I am honored to receive the distinguished professorship and grateful to be part of a university and college that have supported both my teaching and research over the years,” Mercer said.

Dr. Calvin Mercer, professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, has been named a Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor. (Photo by Rhett Butler)

Outstanding Teaching and Advising

Mercer, who began working at ECU in 1985, said he was drawn to an academic career because he loves working with students.

“That has not diminished one bit since I walked into the first classroom. It still energizes me every day,” he said.

Throughout the years, Mercer has taught courses — most of which he designed — in Introduction to Religion, New and Old Testament, Religion and Science, Religion and Social Issues, Religious Mysticism, Women and Religion, World Religions and a seminar on Religion and Radical Human Enhancement, among others. He has served as a member of 11 graduate thesis committees and as a mentor on 11 undergraduate senior or Honors College student research projects.

From 1999-2005, Mercer led 215 students on summer study abroad trips to Italy, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Mexico, Belize and Egypt.

“After taking a general class on world religions, I found myself enthralled by Dr. Mercer’s teaching style and methodology. He wanted us to dig deep and understand the nature of what we were learning within the context of time and other world events leading up to the subject matter at hand,” a former student wrote. “I found myself wanting to take every class I could with him and even followed him to other countries as part of his study abroad programs.”

Research and Creative Productivity

Nominated in the spring, Mercer was selected for the award by Dr. Allison Danell, former dean of Harriot College. She said the nomination materials in support of Mercer contained many persuasive and fascinating accounts of his prolific work.

Danell described Mercer “as an internationally recognized leader in religion, science and technology, particularly in the field of human enhancement, referred to as transhumanism.”

During his career, Mercer said he came to love research, and that he is especially appreciative of the college’s distinguished professorship recognition because it gives him another way to share research in an area of study that he said is needed and growing — the religious and social implications of artificial intelligence and radical human technological enhancement.

Human technological enhancement is the belief that advances in medical science and biomedical technology could theoretically prolong or even indefinitely extend healthy human life. It is also considered a way to upgrade human physical, cognitive, emotional, and even moral and spiritual capabilities. These enhancements are being facilitated by developments in artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, tissue engineering and organ replacement, robotics, nanotechnology and the merging of computer technology with human biology.

“We are stepping into the steep part of the exponential curve in the development of artificial intelligence and its impact, and public awareness is just beginning to catch up,” Mercer said. “Less widely recognized, but potentially just as consequential, is the prospect of radical human enhancement — including our cognitive, emotional, moral and even spiritual capacities — driven by emerging technologies.”

Mercer’s edited publications, peer-reviewed journal articles, dictionary and encyclopedia entries, book reviews and book chapters number in the hundreds. He has authored, or co-authored, 11 books, with two currently in progress. He is a co-editor of the international scholarly series, “Palgrave Studies in the Future of Humanity and Its Successors,” with 14 volumes in print.

His 2021 book with Canadian scholar Tracy Trothen, “Religion and the Technological Future: An Introduction to Biohacking, Artificial Intelligence and Transhumanism,” was honored with a book award from the International Society for Science and Religion. Stepping out of his comfort zone, he co-authored with Portia Bright Pittman a children’s book, “There Ought to be a Law: A Bright Day at the Capitol.” Mercer also holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology, practiced part-time in the profession for a decade and draws on the discipline to interpret religious behavior, as demonstrated in his book on extremist religion, “Slaves to Faith: A Therapist Looks Inside the Fundamentalist Mind.”

“Mercer’s extensive record of books, edited volumes and peer-reviewed publications demonstrates both depth and global reach, bringing significant recognition to the institution,” Danell said.

Mercer has been honored throughout his career for his professional achievements. His awards include the UNC Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching award, ECU’s International Research and Creative Activity Award, ECU Chancellor’s Centennial Award for Excellence in Service, ECU Scholar-Teacher award and ECU Lifetime Learning Instructor of the Year award, among others.

Professional Service

Letters of support from colleagues and previous students highlight Mercer’s exceptional mentorship, as well as his broad impact beyond the classroom through program-building, public engagement and civic leadership, including eight years on the Greenville City Council.

“In keeping with the university’s commitment to service, I am equally passionate about bringing the fruits of this academic work into conversation with a broader public,” Mercer said.

Throughout his career, Mercer has demonstrated his service to the ECU community and beyond through several professional roles. When he arrived at ECU, he was the only religion professor with only three courses in the program. He built the interdisciplinary program by expanding the curriculum, facilitating the hiring of new faculty and developing programs for the community. He served as director of Harriot College’s multidisciplinary studies program from 1998 until 2012, and director of the religious studies program from 1989-2005 and again from 2013-15.

While serving as religious studies director, Mercer played a significant role in raising funds to establish an endowed professorship — the J. Woolard and Helen Peel Distinguished Professor in Religious Studies — and in securing funding for the Distinguished Lecture on Religion and Culture, now in its 33rd year.

His nearly two dozen grants and internal funding sources include support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Academy of Religion and the North Carolina Humanities Committee, among others.

Mercer has served as a guest lecturer and expert consultant on topics in his field of religion and culture, theology, artificial intelligence and transhumanism. He currently contributes his expertise in religion and technology to a team developing and training an AI large language model. He is a member of many organizations, including the American Academy of Religion, International Society for Science and Religion and the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.

Colleagues consistently describe Mercer as an innovative teacher, influential scholar and dedicated servant to his discipline, institution and community — fully embodying the teaching, research and service missions of ECU.

“Mercer is an established, impactful and influential scholar who has shaped the discourse on religion, science and technology. For his exceptional scholarship and his leadership role in the academy, Mercer richly deserves to be awarded the distinguished professorship,” said a colleague’s letter of support.

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