E. LeRoy Lawson

A professor of Christian ministries at Emmanuel Christian Seminary in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Lawson came to Milligan as a faculty member in 1965 and played a key role in conceiving, developing and launching the college’s signature humanities program. He directed the humanities program from 1970 to 1973. After a sabbatical to earn his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee), Lawson was named Milligan’s vice president in 1970.

Lawson went on to serve in ministries in Indiana and Arizona, as well as international mission service with Christian Missionary Fellowship. In the midst of that service (and while leading Central Christian Church in Mesa, Arizona), from 1990-2003 he served as president of Pacific Christian College, which in 1997 became Hope International University.

Throughout this time, he also maintained a deep interest in the work of Milligan. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2005, serving from 2006-2009 and again since 2011 as chair of the academic affairs committee of the board. In January 2012, Lawson joined the faculty of Emmanuel Christian Seminary.