Donald R. Jeanes was inaugurated as the 14th President of Milligan in October of 1997. Under Dr. Jeanes' leadership, Milligan College has continued to add to its long list of achievements. Such accomplishments include:

• Announcing record-high student enrollment

• Successful completion of $30 million capital campaign

• Completing a $2.5 million renovation of Derthick Hall, the primary academic building

• Addition of an MBA Program

• Receiving reaffirmation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

• Securing a $2 million grant from the Lilly Fund to develop student life and career planning programs to encourage students to consider full-time ministry as a vocation

• Completing the Elizabeth Leitner Gregory Center for the Liberal Arts, a new 30,410 square-foot facility

A native of Georgia, President Jeanes is a 1968 magna cum laude graduate of Milligan College. After graduation, he served as director of financial aid and assistant to the business manager at Milligan while attending Emmanuel School of Religion. In 1972, he received his master of divinity degree, with honors, from Emmanuel School of Religion.

Jeanes joined the faculty at Atlanta Christian College where he taught Bible and humanities and administered the student financial aid program for six years. In 1978 he was named administrative vice president of the college where he served until 1984. During this time he did doctoral coursework at Emory University.

An ordained minister, Jeanes served as associate minister and operations manager at First Christian Church in Johnson City from 1984 to 1986. He then was called to serve as senior minister of Spring Branch Christian Church in Houston, Texas. In 1991, he returned to First Christian Church in Johnson City, this time as senior minister. From that ministry, he was chosen to be named president of Milligan College.

Jeanes has been an active member of Milligan's Board since 1981 and recently served as chairman of the Board of Trustees. He has also served as vice-chairman of the Board and has chaired numerous sub-committees. In 1994 he was awarded the honorary doctorate of divinity degree by Milligan College.

In the community and church, President Jeanes serves on the boards of Christian Missionary Fellowship, the Christian Church Foundation for the Handicapped, Mountain States Health Alliance, Elders of First Christian Church, Johnson City and the State of Franklin Savings Bank. He is a member of the Johnson City Rotary Club, having served as president in 2000-2001. For eleven years he has served as a volunteer chaplain at the Johnson City Medical Center.

He is married to Clarinda Phillips Jeanes, a 1971 Milligan graduate. Their daughter, Amy, graduated from Milligan in May of 1999. His interests include LGB trains, golf, and photography.