Cultivating Community and Experience Through DOXA at DBU

Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University's English department, the University Honors Program, and the Art Department, DOXA provides students with a way to collaborate, compete, and gain professional experience while using their careers and passions to glorify God.

Throughout the school year, the English Department hosts a bimonthly Literary Circle on DBU's campus, where writers are encouraged to build relationships and community with other writers as they create, share, and receive feedback from members of the group.

This spring, students who have participated in the Literary Circle, along with other aspiring writers, were invited to submit their works for the DOXA Literary Festival. Hosted by the University's Honors Program, the festival is an annual competition held for DBU students. It allows aspiring writers to submit original pieces in various categories, including poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction.

During this year's festival, held on March 20 in Roger's Theatre and March 21 in the Moon International Building, students presented their submissions to friends and family who came to support, as well as to fellow authors and DBU professors. Following these presentations, winners from each category were announced, and attendees had the chance to hear from guest author, Dr. Derek Updegraff, who has published six books and over 100 short stories and poems.

Following the Literary Festival, the winning pieces, along with pieces selected by the managing student editor and faculty, will be featured in the annual DOXA Magazine. Dr. Jodi Grimes, English Department Chair and Associate Professor of English, shared that the magazine was established in 2018 after recognizing that "our students needed a venue for their creative expression and opportunities to master the skills associated with a literary arts publication."

This student-led magazine is produced through Alpha Eta Xi, DBU's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, in collaboration with the University Honors Program, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the College of Fine Arts. Since its initial publication, the magazine has provided students interested in writing, publishing, editing, and design with the opportunity to strengthen their skills while gaining valuable hands-on experience.

The DOXA Magazine features a collection of students' works selected from the Literary Festival, along with song lyrics, musical compositions, and artwork and photographs submitted to the College of Fine Arts art show. To bring the magazine to life, a managing student editor is selected each year to lead a team of student editors who review submissions and work with authors to prepare their pieces for publication. Once the editorial team finalizes the selections, student graphic designers complete the layout and design before the magazine is sent to print.

DOXA offers DBU students a variety of ways to use their God-given talents as they explore their passions and career fields.

The 2026 edition of the DOXA Magazine will be published and available for purchase this August.