Southern Wesleyan University – President

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of William D. Barker, Ph.D., as the next President of Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina. Dr. Barker currently serves in dual roles as the Founding Executive Director and Chair of the Global Honors Institute and the Executive Director of the Center for Faith & Inquiry at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. Additionally, Dr. Barker serves as a Chaplain with the United State Air Force Reserve. Prior to his work with Gordon College, Dr. Barker was the Senior Minister and Lead Pastor of LifePoint Church in Quincy, Illinois. He also previously served as the Founder & Executive Director, then President of the Board of Directors of Horizons Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry, also in Quincy. Dr. Barker also brings significant teaching and research experience to this role, having served as a tenured full professor at Gordon College, visiting professor at Quincy University and Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, and visiting scholar and guest lecturer at the Buntain Theological College, in Kolkata, India. Dr. Barker earned his Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Languages & Civilization from the University of Cambridge, in England, his M. Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, and his B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Gordon College. A full announcement of his appointment is available at https://www.swu.edu/article/southern-wesleyan-university-announces-dr-william-barker-as-new-president-as-of-july-25-2022/. RPA Inc. wishes Dr. Barker and Southern Wesleyan University success in their new partnership!