Go read the Insight Scoop blog to see who Notre Dame just hired and where he came from.

Here’s the Christianity Today report:

Aside from his scholarly writing, Noll has fostered networks of evangelical scholars. He helped to found the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicalism, and in other informal ways, Noll fostered the evangelical intellectual community, according to Wilson.

"I think he has helped us break caricatures of evangelical anti-intellectualism," says Jones. "Noll is an exemplar of all that’s good in Christian academia. He set the standard of what it means to be a Christian scholar and a Christian teacher." Despite being courted by other major universities, Noll has, until now, turned them down.

"The position he is going to is fantastic," says Jones. "There are two things Notre Dame is offering that Wheaton can’t. One is Notre Dame’s expansive intellectual community, especially in regard to history and religion. Another is the intensive training of a fine cadre of doctoral students."

McGreevy said the department had been considering how to replace George Marsden, who will retire in a little more than a year. Marsden has been a crucial part of the graduate program and the leading intellectual presence, says McGreevy. Marsden was unavailable for comment.

Noll expressed an interest in coming to the university, says McGreevy, and was invited to interview. Noll declined to comment on his departure.

"One of the attractions for us is Mark’s interest in global Christianity," says McGreevy.

Noll is also active in dialogue between Catholics and Protestants. Noll and Carolyn Nystrom recently published Is the Reformation Over? "One thing Mark is committed to is Protestant/Catholic dialogue," says McGreevy. "Notre Dame is a good place to do that. There are lots of serious Catholics and Protestants who want to think about those issues."