After an extensive search, Dr. Stephen Waers has been selected as Milligan University’s 16th president.
Waers, who currently serves as chief academic officer and chief information officer with Point University in Georgia, will succeed Dr. Bill Greer, who will transition to a new role as chancellor after completing this academic year. Green announced his intention to retire as Milligan’s president last spring.
“The search committee set out last May to find an experienced, innovative, Christian leader capable of continuing Milligan’s long tradition of academic excellence into the 21st century,” Dr. Richard Phillips, chair of the Milligan’s board of trustees and leader of the search committee, commented via an article at the school’s website. “We have full confidence Dr. Waers has the ability to carry on our rich traditions and standard of excellence while finding innovative ways for our beloved university to thrive in the years to come.”
The call for presidential applicants yielded 40 strong candidates, which the search committee narrowed to two—both of whom had ties to Milligan—before calling Waers.
Waers earned his undergraduate degree at Point, received an MDiv from Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan with a concentration in church history, and earned a Doctorate in Historical Theology from Marquette University.
“When I think about what it means to be faithful as I serve Milligan as its next president, I am conscious of the tradition, history, and excellence of Milligan,” Waers said via milligan.edu. “I am cognizant of the fact that the 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 noted that Milligan is historically in its strongest-ever position thanks to Greer’s leadership.
During Greer’s tenure, which started in 2011, Emmanuel Christian Seminary was integrated into Milligan, several significant new programs were added—including engineering and physician assistant studies—the endowment more than tripled, the school’s academic programs were reorganized, and the institution was elevated to university status.
“Dr. Greer’s presidency has been marked by change,” Waers noted, “but it is good and faithful change.”
“Milligan has been at the heart of my life for most of my life,” Greer said, “and I plan to continue furthering Milligan’s mission in my new role as chancellor.”
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