Jim graduated from Mechanicsburg High School in 1962, then went on to receive a B.A. from Wheaton College in philosophy. Three years later he received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He then studied philosophy for a year at the Free University of Amsterdam before entering Duke University for graduate study. In 1974, Jim completed his Ph.D. in political science at Duke.
From 1973 to 1982, Jim taught political theory and international relations at three Christian colleges, one of which is local, Messiah College. He is well-known and highly regarded as a noted Christian political philosopher and author. In 1977, he helped found a public policy think tank in Washington D.C., called the Center for Public Justice (CPJ). He became the executive director and then president of this organization from 1981 to 2009. The CPJ is an independent, nonpartisan and non-profit organization devoted to policy research and civic education. The CPJ was sustained in large part through gifts and grants to work on topics such as education and welfare reform, agriculture and environmental policy, foreign and defense policy. His studies of others’ views and political movements played a key role in shaping his outlook and questions about public life from a Christian point of view. One of his first books (1990) was The Scattered Voice: Christians at Odds in the Public Square.
Jim has traveled extensively giving lectures, mentoring, and participating on political and academic panels at home and abroad. He has been to Canada, Mexico, Europe, Russia, Australia and China to name a few places his work has taken him. His books focus primarily on areas of political philosophy and practice, including international relations, as well as biblical studies.
Dr. Skillen received the Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2001. In 2016 he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In retirement, he continues to write, do research, and travel in the U.S. and abroad to give lectures. His most recent book (2014) is entitled The Good of Politics: A Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Introduction.
Jim is married to his high school sweetheart, Doreen Wittlinger Skillen (M-burg class of 1963) and they now live in Birmingham, Alabama near their daughter and family. Their son and family live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They have four grandsons. Jim enjoys music, reading, walking and golfing when time permits.
Dr. Beth Musser grew up in Grantham, the daughter of Reverand
Arthur & Wilma Musser. Beth was a member of the graduating class
of 1962. She married James Lockerman and currently resides in
Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.
Her educational journey throughout life took her beyond her high
school diploma and is most impressive. She attended Messiah College
for a year and then transferred to Lycoming College where she earned
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1966. That same year she began her
career as an elementary school teacher in Peters Township, PA.
Opportunity then took her to Morgantown, West Virginia where
she went on to work and earned a Master of Arts in Reading and
Language Arts from West Virginia University in 1970. After that
Musser became a graduate assistant at the University of Colorado and
did post graduate work at Ball State University in Higher Education.
In 1976 Musser became associated with West Liberty University
where she became a professor of education and a reading specialist
and Dean for the last nine years of her tenure there. During this
time, Beth was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Language
Communications from the University of Pittsburg in 1981. Dr. Musser
then went on to serve at West Liberty University as Director of
Student Teaching (1984-2000) and Professional Development
Schools Coordinator (2000-2009). Over several years she increased
collaboration from one school to all sixteen schools in Ohio County.
Dr. Musser was instrumental in creating the first Master’s program
at West Liberty University in 2008 and directed that program until
her retirement. She also directed a Master’s Degree collaborative
program with West Virginia University and Marshall University from
2001-2007.
To say Dr. Musser has made an impact in her chosen profession
is an understatement. Because of her tireless efforts to improve
education wherever she has gone, she has earned numerous awards
throughout her life. For example,
• 1994 she earned the Exemplary Professor Award from West Liberty
University
• 1997, she received the West Virginia Reading Association Educator
of the Year Award
• 1997, she was a West Virginia Faculty Merit Professor of the Year
finalist
• 2005, she received the West Virginia University Alumni Award
Throughout her life, Dr. Musser has been a role model to others
in improving education. For this reason it gives the Mechanicsburg
Area High School Alumni Association great pleasure in inducting Dr.
Beth Musser into the Mechanicsburg Hall of Fame for her Outstanding
Service in a Chosen Profession