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David S. Dockery was
elected the 15th president of Union University on December 8, 1995.
Since that time the university has seen an increase in student
enrollment from 1,975 in the Fall of 1996 to 4,262 in 2012, which
includes fifteen straight years of increased enrollment. Non-duplicating
annual enrollment has increased from 2,183 to 5,301 during this time. The
number of donors to the university has more than tripled during this period.
The significant increase in giving to the university during
this time has included more than twenty-five
of the largest gifts in Union’s long history. Dockery has provided
leadership for five major five-year strategic plans: Vision and Values 2001; Vision and Values 2005;
Union 2010: A Vision for Excellence; Renewing Minds: Union 2012; and Illuminating Minds: Union 2015. Prior to coming to Union,
Dockery served as Chief Academic Officer at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
During his tenure the
university has seen a strong increase in commitment to excellence in
teaching and scholarship. Union has been listed among the top tier
institutions in the South each of the past sixteen years by U.S. News and
World Report. Union has also been recognized during this time by
Peterson’s Competitive College Guide, the Princeton Review,
and Templeton’s Colleges that Encourage Character Development.
Union has on six occasions received the President's Higher Education Community Service Award.
Union has been listed among America's Colleges of Distinction and also
as one of America's Top 100 College Buys. This past year Union was once again listed among
USNWR Up and Coming universities in the country to watch.
Union was ranked third in the South "where the faculty has an unusual commitment to undergraduate teaching."
For the fifth straight year, Union was listed as an A+ institution for B students.
First Things magazine named Union as one of the Top Twelve Protestant Universities in the entire country.
In 2011, the Chronicle of Higher Education named Union to the Honor Roll of
Great Colleges to Work For (one of only 30 universities in the entire country).
The university has
added several new degree programs including undergraduate majors in
digital media studies, engineering, physics, sports medicine, political
science, theology, and ethics,
among others, and several graduate programs in intercultural studies,
Christian studies, nursing, social work, education, and pharmacy. Five doctoral programs
have been started. Faculty
development programs have been greatly enhanced and the breadth of student
services has been visibly expanded. A new campus master plan, which literally re-envisioned the campus, has seen
the addition of numerous new residence complexes, the Miller Tower, Jennings Hall, White Hall, Providence Hall,
Hammons Hall, the Fesmire baseball/softball complex, Fesmire Athletic Fieldhouse,
Smith Memorial Soccer Complex, the Grant Events Center, and the Bowld Student Commons Building. Regional
campuses were established in Germantown, TN in 1997 and in Hendersonville, TN in 2009, which offer programs in
education, business, nursing, and Christian studies.
The annual budget has increased from $18 million to $90 million.
Dockery is the author or
editor of thirty-five books including Faith and Learning, The Great Tradition of Christian Thinking, Renewing Minds,
Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal, Biblical Interpretation Then and Now,
Theologians of the Baptist Tradition, Christian Leadership Essentials, and the Holman Bible Handbook. In addition he
has contributed to more than sixty other volumes.
He is also the author of numerous articles, chapters, and book reviews.
A much sought after speaker on issues
of higher education and cultural issues, Dockery has been invited to
present lectures at nearly fifty colleges, universities, and seminaries across
the country. He has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe,
The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Post,
The Dallas Morning News, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
The Washington Times, The Tennessean,
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis), The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
The Birmingham News,
The Courier-Journal (Louisville), The Baltimore Sun,
The Chronicle of Higher Education, Religion News Service, Bloomberg.com,
Forbes.com, Fox.com,
and several denominational publications, among others. His articles have been published in
Touchstone, Books & Culture, Christianity Today, Pantheos.com and a number
of other significant publications.
He has been interviewed on several national networks: CNN, NBC, ABC,
MSNBC, FOX, and numerous local/regional television channels; along with national radio interviews on
ABC, FOX, NPR, Moody, Salem, AFR, and others.
In 2002 Dockery was named a
Distinguished Alumnus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and also was named Jackson's Man of the Year in 2008.
In 2012 he received the William D. Smart Jr. Race Relations Award. He has served on the board of
directors of several civic groups and local foundations. Dockery has
served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Council for Christian
Colleges and Universities, as well as the Consortium for Global Education.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Prison Fellowship and
has served on the board of Christianity Today International,
where he also continues to serve as consulting editor. Dockery has also served in a variety of denominational roles.
He has served as editor of the New American Commentary Series (B&H) and is the
General Editor of the series on Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition (Crossway).
Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in
1952, Dockery holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and
masters degrees from Grace
Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Texas
Christian University. He holds the Ph.D. in Humanities from the University
of Texas system. Dockery and his wife, Lanese, have three married sons and five grandchildren.
Major Lectureships:
- Spell Lectures, Mississippi College
- Page Lectures, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Christ and Culture Lectures, California Baptist University
- Day-Higginbotham Lectures, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Founders’ Day Lecture, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Convocation Address, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Keynote Address, Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society
- Keynote Address, The International Mission Board Communications Symposium
- Hester Lectures, The Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools
- Powell Lectures, Florida Baptist College
- Dimension Lectures, Gardner-Webb University
- Hobbs Lectures, Oklahoma Baptist University (twice)
- Keynote Address, Consortium for Global Education
- Keynote Address, University Educators for Global Engagement
- Whitesides Preaching Lectures, Erskine College and Seminary
- Theological Fellowship Lecture, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Torrey Lectures, Biola University (prepared but not able to deliver in person)
- Contemporary Issues Lectures, Biola University/Talbot Seminary
- Alabama Baptist Leadership Summit Keynote Address
- TACL Leadership Conference Keynote Address
- Convocation, Houston Baptist University
- Convocation, Beeson Divinity School
- Inaugural Address, Anderson University (Evans Whitaker)
- Inaugural Address, Hannibal-LaGrange University (Anthony Allen)
- Keynote Address, University Educators for Global Engagement
- Trustee Lectures, Azusa Pacific University
- Strauss Lectures, Lincoln Christian University
- Plenary Address, Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society
- Keynote Address, Faculty Development Conference, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
- Keynote Address, Spiritual Formation Conference, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
- Faith and Thought Lectures, Northwestern College (MN)
- Keynote Address, National Association for Christian Librarians
- Caskey Christian Scholar Lectures, Louisiana College
- Theta Alpha Kappa Lectures, Blue Mountain College
- Keynote Address, 50th Anniversary of the CLC/ERLC
- Doctoral Lectures, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
Major Conference/Special Event Speaker:
- Baptist Theological Seminary of Singapore
- Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Beeson Divinity School, Samford University
- Azusa Pacific University (Commencement Address)
- Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (Commencement Address)
- Wheaton College
- Baylor University
- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
- University of Mobile
- American Academy of Ministry, Princeton University
- Hannibal LaGrange College
- Free Will Baptist College
- Institute for the Study of Protestantism and American Culture
- Dallas Theological Seminary (Commencement Address)
- Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
- Anderson University (SC)
- Oklahoma Christian University
- Louisiana College (Commencement Address)
- Grace College and Seminary
- Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Southwest Baptist University
- Campbellsville University
- Brewton-Parker College
- East Texas Baptist University
- The Southern Baptist Convention
- Mid-Continent College (Commencement Address)
- Numerous State Baptist Conventions (Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Hawaii, North Carolina)
- Among Others
Visiting Professor:
- Anglican School of Theology/University of Dallas
- Moscow Theological Institute
- Beeson Divinity School, Samford University
- Grace College and Seminary
- Golden Gate Seminary
Annual Reports
Books (Authored)
- The Doctrine of the Bible (Nashville:
Convention Press, 1991; reprint, Nashville: Seminary Extension, 1998).
- La Doctrina de La Bibla, translated by Miguel
A. Mesias (Nashville: Convention, 1992).
- Biblical Interpretation Then and Now (Grand
Rapids: Baker, 1992, reprint 2000).
- Seeking the Kingdom: The Sermon on the Mount Made
Practical, co-authored with David E. Garland (Wheaton: Harold
Shaw, 1992).
- Christian Scripture: An Evangelical Perspective on
Inspiration, Authority, and Interpretation (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 1995). Also translated into Romanian.
- Ephesians: One Body in Christ (Nashville:
Convention, 1996).
- Efesios: Un Cuerpo en Cristo (Nashville:
Convention, 1996).
- Our Christian Hope: Bible Answers to Questions
About the Future (Nashville: Lifeway Press, 1998)
- Basic Christian Beliefs (Shepherd's Notes
Series; Nashville: B&H Publishing, 1999).
- Holman Guide to Interpreting the Bible
with George Guthrie (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2004).
- Building Bridges
with Timothy George (Nashville: Convention Press, 2007)
- Renewing Minds: Serving Church and Society Through
Christian Higher Education (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2007; Second Edition 2008)
- Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal: A Biblical, Historical and
Theological Proposal (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2008)
- The Pursuit: Ecclesiastes (Nashville: Lifeway, 2011)
- The Great Tradition of Christian Thinking with Timothy George (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012)
- View More in the Union Book Project
Books (Edited)
- Baptist Theologians, co-editor and contributor
with Timothy George (Nashville: Broadman, 1990) chapter on
"Millard J. Erickson."
- Revell Bible Dictionary, consulting editor
(Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell, 1990).
- People of God: Essays on the Believers' Church,
co-editor with Paul Basden (Nashville: Broadman, 1991).
- New Testament Criticism and Interpretation,
co-editor and contributor with David Alan Black (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1991) chapter on "The History of New Testament
Interpretation."
- Beyond the Impasse?: Scripture, Interpretation,
and Theology in Baptist Life, co-editor with Robison B. James
(Nashville: Broadman, 1992) chapter on "A People of the Book: The
Crisis of Biblical Authority Today."
- Holman Bible Handbook, general editor and
contributor (Nashville: Holman, 1992) sections on "Pauline
Letters," "History of Biblical Interpretation,"
"Christian Faith and the Christian Community," and "The
Lord's Supper."
- The Concise Bible Dictionary, consulting
editor (Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell, 1992).
- Holman Book of Biblical Charts, Maps and
Reconstructions, contributing editor (Nashville: Holman, 1993).
- Southern Baptists and American Evangelicals: The
Conversation Continues, editor and contributor (Nashville:
Broadman, 1993) chapters on "Introduction to Southern Baptists
and American Evangelicals" and "Evangelical Responses to
Southern Baptists."
- Foundations for Biblical Interpretation,
co-editor and contributor with Robert B. Sloan and Kenneth A. Mathews
(Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1994) chapter on "The Study and
Interpretation of the Bible."
- The Challenge of Postmodernism: An Evangelical
Engagement, editor and contributor
(Grand Rapids: Baker/BridgePoint, 1995, revised edition 2001)
chapter on "The Challenge of Postmodernism."
- The Best of A. T. Robertson, compiler
(Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1996).
- New Dimensions in Evangelical Theology: Essays in
Honor of Millard J. Erickson, editor (Downers Grove: InterVarsity,
1998). Chapter on "Millard J. Erickson."
- Holman Concise Bible Commentary, general
editor (Nashville: B&H Publishing,
1998). Section on the "Pauline Epistles."
Translated into Spanish.
- The Integration of Faith and Learning: A Basic
Bibliography, editor and compiler (1998).
- The Future of Christian Higher Education,
co-editor with David P. Gushee (B&H Publishing, 1999). Chapters
on "The Future of Christian Higher Education: An
Introduction," "The Great Commandment As a Paradigm for
Christian Higher Education," "The Role of Professional
Education in Christian Higher Education," and "The Grandeur
of God and Real Education: A Strategy for Integrating Faith in a
Post-Christian Culture."
- New Testament Interpretation, co-edited with
David Alan Black (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2000). Chapter on
the History of New Testament Interpretation.
- Theologians of the Baptist Tradition,
co-edited with Timothy George (Nashville: B&H Publishing,
2001). Chapters on John A. Broadus, A.T. Robertson, and Hershel Hobbs.
- Shaping a Christian Worldview, co-edited with
Greg Thornbury (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2002). Chapter
on Shaping a Christian Worldview.
- John A. Broadus: A Living Legacy, co-edited with Roger Duke (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2008).
Chapter on "Mighty in the Scriptures."
- Southern Baptist Identity: An Evangelical Denomination Faces the Future (Wheaton: Crossway, 2009).
Chapter on "Southern Baptists in the 21st Century."
- Christian Leadership Essentials: A Handbook for Managing Christian Organizations
(Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2011).
- Southern Baptist, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism
(Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2011)
- Faith and Learning: A Handbook for Christian Higher Education
(Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2012)
- View More in the Union Book Project
- Contributor to nearly sixty other books, author of nearly one hundred articles in various journals and periodicals,
and more than two hundred book reviews and endorsements.
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