Higher Education Pedagogy & Policy

I graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Preaching from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, TN, in 1982. I received a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, in December 1985. I received a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins from Duke University in Durham, NC, in 1993. I also earned a Master of Arts in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education at Michigan State University in 2007.

Following eight years in the ministry, I taught New Testament at Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing, MI, for seven years. For three of those years, I served as Vice President of Academic Affairs. Since 2006, I have served at Johnson University as Professor of New Testament. In fall 2012, I was appointed Assistant Provost for Academic Services. In fall 2014, my title was changed to Associate Provost for Accreditation. I directed the university’s ten-year reaffirmation for SACSCOC and ABHE until July 2016, when I was appointed Vice Provost for Academic Services. In October 2020, I was appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost at Johnson University.

I have participated in the regional survey of the Karak Resources Project for three seasons. I also serve in the ongoing role of secretary/treasurer for ASOR Southeast, and I have served as President twice. I am a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, American Schools of Oriental Research, American Institute of Archaeology, and Knoxville Civil War Roundtable.