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During commencement, Milligan will also present President Jeanes and First Lady Clarinda Jeanes with its highest honor, the Fide et Amoreaward, in recognition of their loving and faithful service to the college.
“The Jeanes’ influence has reshaped the college physically, academically, financially and relationally,” said David Hamilton, chair of Milligan’s Board of Trustees. “Through their tireless efforts, both on campus and off, Milligan has a solid reputation in the local community and the Restoration Movement churches. Don and Clarinda have revitalized the campus and the student learning experience, and Milligan is in the best financial condition it has seen in decades. That is an incredible legacy.”
Jeanes was inaugurated as the 14th president of Milligan in October of 1997. Under his leadership, the college has experienced significant growth and achievement.
Don graduated from Milligan in 1968 and married Clarinda Phillips in 1969. While working on his Master of Divinity at Emmanuel School of Religion, Don served as Milligan’s director of financial aid and assistant to the business manager, and he and Clarinda served as resident directors.
Following Clarinda’s graduation in 1971, Don joined the faculty at Atlanta Christian College, where he taught Bible and humanities and was financial aid director. In 1978, he was named ACC’s administrative vice president. Always the history enthusiast, Don completed doctoral coursework in American Studies at Emory University, while Clarinda taught elementary school and owned a sewing store. Their greatest joy came in welcoming daughter, Amy, in 1977.
In the mid-1980s, Don felt a strong call to use his pastoral and administrative gifts in church ministry. This brought the couple back to Johnson City, where Don served for two years as associate minister and operations manager at First Christian Church, and Clarinda served as church hostess. During these years, Don and Clarinda renewed their passion for Milligan: Don accepted a role on the Board of Trustees, and he and Clarinda began to plant deep roots in East Tennessee.
Following a senior ministry at Spring Branch Christian Church in Houston, Texas, the couple returned to First Christian Church in Johnson City in 1991, Don serving as senior minister and Clarinda as children’s ministry director. It was from this position that Don was called in 1997 to the presidency of Milligan, quickly building on the strong foundation left by retiring president Marshall Leggett, expanding programming, enrollment, facilities and the college’s reputation.
In addition to their service to the college, the Jeaneses have an extensive list of church and community involvement. Clarinda serves as president of the Mountain States Health Alliance Foundation and has spearheaded the development of numerous special events to benefit the hospital. Additionally, she founded and serves as president of the Associated Ladies for Milligan, whose purpose is to raise funds to support student scholarships at Milligan and enrich women’s ministry in the local community.
Don serves on Mountain States Health Alliance Board of Directors and as a volunteer chaplain with Johnson City Medical Center. He recently was recognized with the “Spirit Award” presented by Mountain States Health Alliance.
Class of 2011
Milligan will award 183 degrees at the ceremony. The May graduates include 36 bachelor of arts (B.A.), 85 bachelor of science (B.S.), 30 bachelor of science in nursing, 20 master of business administration (M.B.A.) and 12 master of education (M.Ed.) students.
A complete schedule of graduation activities is available online at www.milligan.edu/commencement or by calling 423.461.8681.