Burr Datz Catholic Campus Minister

Originally from Long Island, W. C. “Burr” Datz has lived in Rockbridge County since 1977. After graduating from Washington and Lee University in 1975 with a B.A. in Spanish, he served two years as an elementary school teacher on Long Island, returned to Lexington and served W&L as assistant food services manager for two years and then as assistant director of security for nine years.

In 1988, he became the campus minister to the Lexington area campuses, serving in that capacity until 2001. He earned a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1990. He became the director of leadership development at W&L in 2001, and then added the responsibilities as the coordinator of religious life in 2005. A member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society, he served as faculty secretary to W&L's Alpha Circle for nine years. He received the R.E. “Chub” Yeakel Memorial Service Award from W&L’s Athletic Department in 1989 and in 2007, received the James G. Leyburn Service Award in 1999 and the William W Pusey III Award from the Executive Committee for lifetime contributions to W&L in 2010.

In 2010, he returned to his campus ministry roots to serve as Director of Catholic Campus Ministry for W&L, the School of Law and Virginia Military Institute.