Part of me totally agrees with you, but your response is not quite as complete as I think it should be. You see, if what you propose was all it took to get a PhD, well, I would have had one many years ago. For me, it is the details of the “stewardship” that are important in a doctoral program. It is both the knowledge that our forbearers learned about our specific field, and the field of inquiry within our specialty which must be passed on to future generations.

I agree that many individuals who earn those three little letters will not have your view of stewardship, and while I find that a shame, the pessimist in me (and yes, the cruel world has caused me to gain some pessimism) acknowledges that this is simply a fact of human nature. What we can, and should in my opinion, gain from a doctoral program, whether we view ourselves as stewards or not, is to have an intimate knowledge of the history of our chosen field and the ability to contribute positively to this field.

For me, I came into our field yearning to be a steward, such as you describe, and I knew that I lacked the historical foundations necessary to be the steward I hope to become. Despite the requirements of a specific academic program, I will not be ready to be called Doctor until I feel that I have such a foundation and that I can help others to became equally literate in the foundations of our field.

While I hope that others in my program, and my future students, will feel the need to be stewards, I do not feel that that alone is the purpose of a doctoral program. However, an exceptional doctoral program should foster such intents.

All that said, one of my greatest joys each day, is knowing that you and the COSL team share the same passion to “benefit humanity and bless mankind”. I am so very proud to be part of a group that I believe in so deeply.

Thank you!