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MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Aug. 1, 2024) – Dr. Stephen Waers officially assumed office as Milligan’s 16th president on Thursday following the retirement of Dr. Bill Greer.
Waers began the day by hosting an informal reception for the campus community inside Little Hartland. The event included a time of prayer asking God to bless the work that lies ahead during the Waers presidency.
“I am excited to lead Milligan in ways that allow it to grow into the plans and purposes God has in store for it so the university can continue to flourish,” Waers said.
Answering the call to become Milligan’s next president is a homecoming of sorts for Waers and his wife Katie. They spent their first years as a married couple in Johnson City while Stephen finished his Master of Divinity with a concentration in Church History at Emmanuel. They returned to Northeast Tennessee this summer with their two daughters, Vivian and Ellie.
The Waers were strong supporters of Milligan University and Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan following Stephen’s graduation from Emmanuel. They were drawn back by the opportunity to help preserve Milligan’s rich tradition and advance its longstanding mission of providing men and women with a Christ-centered liberal arts education.
“When I think about what it means to be faithful as I serve Milligan as its president, I am conscious of the tradition, history and excellence of Milligan,” Waers said. “I am cognizant of the fact that this history, tradition and excellence are rooted most deeply in Milligan’s faithfulness to Christ and determined adherence to its Christ-centered mission of educating men and women to be servant-leaders.”
Waers is grateful to Greer for the strong leadership he provided during his 13 years as Milligan’s president and thanks him for staying on as president emeritus and chancellor. In these roles, Greer will work with Waers and university leadership to maintain important external relationships.
“Thanks to Dr. Greer’s faithful leadership, Milligan is stronger than it has ever been,” Waers said. “The university has experienced a great deal of growth that came about through judicious decisions made by Dr. Greer and his excellent team, and Milligan remained both faithful and on mission during that time.”
Inaugural festivities for Waers will take place from Oct. 24-26.