University Senate Nominations

1996 United Methodist General Conference

For results of the University Senate Elections, look at the News Release on this topic

Chief Executive Officers of U.M.-Related Educational Institutions:

Wanda Bigham is president of Huntington College, Montgomery, Ala. Previously she served as president of Marycrest College, Davenport, Iowa, and led that institution through a time of reorganization and redirection. She also has been vice president of development and college relations and executive assistant to the president at Emerson College and associate dean of academic programs at Morehead University. Dr. Bigham is a member of the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) and the International Association of University Presidents. She is a member of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church and has served as a member of visiting teams for the University Senate.

Ann H. Die is president of Hendrix College, Conway, Ark. She has brought a heightened level of enthusiasm to the campus and to the relationship between the church and the college. Dr. Die has served as a member of the University Senate during the current quadrennium. She is president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and a member of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church and serves as the association's vice president. A United Methodist, she previously served in the administration of Tulane University.

Ellen Hurwitz is president of Albright College, Reading, Pa. During her three years as president, she has developed a new sense of leadership and cooperation among the entire college community. Dr. Hurwitz led the college through a study of new understandings of what it means to be church related and how that relationship is expressed in the work of the college. She is a former dean and professor at Illinois Wesleyan University and a member of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church.

G. Douglass Lewis has been president of Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., for 14 years. Dr. Lewis has strong experience in the ministry of higher education. He served as chaplain and professor at Tennessee Wesleyan College and directed parish development and the doctor of ministry program at Hartford Theological Seminary. He also served on the staff of the National Council of Churches Department of Ministry and developed an enlistment program in partnership with 10 denominations. He has published several books and articles in the area of the church's mission and ministry. He is the president of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools (AUMTS) and previously served as the AUMTS representative to the Senate's Commission on Theological Education.

Donald E. Messer has served as a United Methodist seminary and college president for 25 years. Since 1991 he has been president and professor at Iliff School of Theology, Denver. Dr. Messer served as president of Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell, S.D. (1971-81). The author of seven books, he serves on accrediting teams of the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities, and has served as president of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools. A delegate to the 1996 General Conference, he has been a delegate to four previous General Conferences. He has also served the church as a director of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the General Board of Global Ministries.

Wesley Poling is president of Kentucky-Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Ky. Previously, he served as vice president for development and alumni relations at Gaucher College. He also has been a member of the administrative team at Yale University. Dr. Poling has been active in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and is a member of the Committee on Public Policy of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church. A United Methodist clergyman, he is a member of the Wisconsin Annual Conference.

Roy B. Shilling Jr. is president of United Methodist-related Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas. Prior to his move to Southwestern, he was president of Hendrix College, Conway, Ark. Dr. Shilling is a 1992-96 member of the University Senate, and he has served as chair of the senate's task force on church relationships. He is a member of the Texas United Methodist College Association and works for strong relations between the denomination and its colleges. He is a member and former president of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church and is active in the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Lovett H. Weems Jr. was appointed to the University Senate in 1994 following a resignation. A local church pastor in Mississippi for many years, he became president of St. Paul School of Theology in 1985. A 1996 General Conference delegate from Missouri West, he was elected in 1980 as a delegate from Mississippi. He holds degrees from Millsaps College, Perkins School of Theology and Wesley Theological Seminary. He has served on two boards of ordained ministry and chaired a conference council on ministries. He is author of Church Leadership and John Wesley's Message Today. He and his spouse, Emily, are parents of four children.

John W. White Jr. serves as president of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Neb. His leadership has brought the university to new heights of academic excellence. Dr. White previously was academic dean at Oklahoma City University. He is a member and former president of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church. From 1988-92 he served as president of the University Senate. He is also active in the leadership of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and is a member of their board of directors.

Persons Holding Other Positions Relevant to Academic or Financial Affairs or Church Relationships:

For the past years Willa Bing-Harris has been a professor and a coordinator for special education at Alabama State University, Montgomery. Her responsibilities include teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, writing curriculum, writing and grading comprehensive examinations, and securing placement for practicum students. She serves on the accreditation review committee for the state department of education. She is an active member of Metropolitan United Methodist Church, in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. She has served on the board of directors of the United Methodist Children's Home. She has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Educator, Ford Foundation Fellowship and Consortium of Doctors. She has been recognized in Who's Who in the South and Southwest. She received her Ed.D. in education administration and special education administration from the University of Illinois.

Frederick Blumer is currently president of the University Senate, completing his first four-year term. He is currently Moll Professor of Faith and Life at Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio. Prior to his position, he distinguished himself as president of Lycoming College and professor and dean at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Dennis M. Campbell is dean of the Divinity School at Duke University and has been active in the life and ministry of the church. A United Methodist clergyman, he has been a pastor, a chaplain, a faculty member and the author of books and articles about theological education and the ministry of the church. He has been a delegate to four General Conferences, as well as the World Methodist Council. He is a member of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools. Under his leadership, and in cooperation with the Lilly Foundation, the divinity school has developed the highly regarded "United Methodism and American Culture" program.

Maxie Dunnam is a clergy member of the Kentucky Conference and president of Asbury Theological Seminary. He has served on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and is chair of world evangelism and on the executive committee of the World Methodist Council. He is former world editor of The Upper Room, and for 12 years he was senior minister of Christ United Methodist Church, Memphis, Tenn. He is a presenter on Disciple Bible Study, was involved in beginning the Emmaus movement and the Academy of Spiritual Formation, and is the author of 31 books.

Justo L. Gonzalez holds a Ph.D. in historical theology from Yale University. He has served as professor and dean of the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico and as professor at Candler School of Theology. He is now adjunct professor at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, and at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga. He is a well-known preacher, lecturer and prolific writer. He is the author of more than 50 books on theology, preaching, ministry and leadership, published in English and other languages. He is a native Cuban, author of the "Hispanic Creed" and an elder in the Rio Grande Conference.

Aubrey K. Lucas, Ph.D., has been president and professor of higher education, University of Southern Mississippi, for 21 years. As a lifelong United Methodist, he has served the local church as chair of the administrative board, staff-parish relations committee and council on ministries, and as lay leader. He has been his conference lay leader, and chair of the committees on episcopacy and finance and administration. A delegate to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference from 1984 to 1996, he served on its episcopacy committee. As a delegate to General Conferences, 1984 to 1996, he has also served on the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He is chair of the American Association of Colleges and Universities and on the board of the American Council on Education.

David Moldonado is an assistant dean of academic affairs at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. He has been at Perkins since 1984. Prior to becoming assistant dean, Dr. Moldonado served as professor of church and society. His teaching has been in the area of ministry to older adults, Hispanic ministries, and race relations and the church. A United Methodist clergyman, he has written extensively in the area of aging as well as Hispanic concerns. He has served as a member of the University Senate and its Commission on Theological Schools.

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