With another academic year set to begin, Candler School of Theology prepares for its 112th year of educating faithful and creative leaders for the church’s ministries throughout the world. Along with a new class of incoming students across six degree programs, the school welcomes new and visiting faculty—including Dean Terrence L. (Kojo) Johnson—and celebrates promotions and appointments of current faculty.
Terrence L. (Kojo) Johnson joins the faculty as Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean of Candler. His official installation will take place during Fall Convocation on Thursday, August 27. An ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Johnson comes to Candler from Harvard Divinity School.
J. Neil Alexander joins the faculty as Dean’s Professor of Anglican Studies. Alexander is the former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and dean emeritus of the School of Theology at the University of the South.
Jon-Paul Lapeña joins the faculty as a Louisville Institute postdoctoral fellow and visiting assistant professor of New Testament.
Shanise N. Palmer 26G joins the faculty as visiting assistant professor of preaching.
Chandra C. Plowden joins the faculty as a Louisville Institute postdoctoral fellow and visiting assistant professor of Black church studies and African American religion and culture.
Kristine Suna-Koro 10G joins the faculty as acting associate professor of worship.
Along with these new additions, several current faculty have been promoted or appointed to new roles:
Craig Ford has been appointed as assistant professor of ethics.
Joel M. LeMon, The Rev. Dr. Donald Allen Harp, Jr. Distinguished Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, has been appointed associate dean of academic affairs, succeeding Bandy Professor of Preaching Teresa L. Fry Brown.
Associate Dean of Worship and Spiritual Formation Khalia J. Williams has been promoted to professor in the practice of worship.
Candler will celebrate the start of the academic year and the inauguration of Terrence L. (Kojo) Johnson as Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean with on-campus events August 26 and 27. Learn more and register here.