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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (July 1, 2015) — Fifty years ago, in 1965, Emmanuel Christian Seminary began operations on Milligan College’s campus before relocating to its present location across the highway from Milligan a few years later.
Starting today, the two institutions are one.
Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer announced the merger of Emmanuel into Milligan at a ceremony this morning, held at the seminary’s B.D. Phillips Building, that included representatives from both institutions, alumni and members of the community.
“This is a historic day for Milligan and Emmanuel,” said Greer. “It is more important than ever for us to prepare faith-driven servant leaders; therefore, we welcome Emmanuel to join us on this mission that has guided Milligan over the past 150 years.”
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) approved the merger, effective today, and also the college’s reclassification as a Level 5 institution, allowing Milligan to award degrees at the doctoral level.
Since the summer of 2012, the college has worked with Emmanuel to help the seminary overcome significant financial issues and prepare for its eventual integration into Milligan. With its financial situation much improved and its viability secured, the merger will allow Emmanuel to continue its work of preparing men and women for effective ministry, while enabling Milligan to add important new programs to its curriculum.
Emmanuel is now part of Milligan’s School of Bible and Ministry, one of five schools comprising the college’s new academic structure, which also includes The Schools of Science and Allied Health, Arts and Humanities, Social Science and Education and The William B. Greene Jr. School of Business and Technology.
“As Milligan approaches its sesquicentennial in 2016,” said Greer, “we celebrate our long history of offering strong academic programs with new additions like Emmanuel’s master’s-level and doctoral programs, an engineering program and a physician assistant program.”
Milligan administration serving on the integration team included Greer; Jacqui Steadman, vice president for business and finance; Dr. Lee Fierbaugh, vice president for enrollment management and marketing; Dr. Garland Young, vice president for academic affairs and dean; and Jack Simpson, vice president for institutional advancement.
Emmanuel administrators serving on the team included Dr. Rollin Ramsaran, academic dean and professor of New Testament, who will continue as dean of the seminary; Bob Hall, chief operations officer; and Dan Lawson, executive director of development, who will now serve as associate director of seminary development.
Lauren Gullett has been named as admissions director for Emmanuel. She earned a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel in 2002 and previously worked on the ministry staff at Central Christian Church in Mesa, Arizona, and then in marketing and public relations for the past several years. Gullett, along with her husband, Jared (a 2001 Milligan alum), relocated with their five children from Phoenix, Arizona.
To learn more about Emmanuel, visit ecs-new.milligan.edu.
For more information about Milligan, visit www.milligan.edu.