Back to News 
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (May 8, 2018) — Milligan College presented its Fide et Amore award to Dan Lawson for his loving and faithful service to the college.
The Fide et Amore award, Milligan’s highest acknowledgement of service, was announced and presented at commencement ceremonies held Saturday, May 5, in the Mary B. Martin Auditorium located in the college’s Seeger Chapel. During the ceremonies, Milligan also awarded a total of 181 degrees.
Lawson served for 29 years as Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan’s chief advancement officer before retiring in September 2017. After joining Emmanuel in 1988, he helped the seminary triple its gift income, led efforts to more than double the seminary’s endowment, and directed fundraising efforts for a student-housing village.
Prior to Emmanuel, Dan spent 22 years in youth and singles ministry, serving churches across the U.S. He grew up in the Northwest, and he earned a Bachelor of Theology from Northwest Christian University in 1969 and a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel in 1973.
Dr. C. Robert Wetzel, seminary chancellor and former Emmanuel president, wrote the citation for Lawson.
“Dan’s role extended well beyond relating to those outside of Emmanuel to secure its financial well-being—he was intimately involved in helping the school create a vision for the future,” said Wetzel. “He always exemplified faith, love and grace in his relationships with staff and colleagues.”
For 45 years, Dan has been married to Linda, a 1971 graduate of Milligan, who served as the college’s director of personnel for over 25 years, retiring 2015. They have a daughter, Andrea; son, John (’03); and two grandchildren, Jude and Jonas.