The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has appointed Matthew J. Hall as dean of its undergraduate school Boyce College. Hall, assistant professor of church history, has served as vice president for academic services at Southern Seminary since 2013.
“Matthew Hall is just the leader to take Boyce College into the next stage of its future,” said R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Seminary, who appointed Hall to the new position. “He is academically prepared, experienced, and ready to lead one of the fastest-growing programs in higher education. I have had the honor of working with Matthew Hall for several years in the highest levels of Southern Seminary’s administration. With this appointment we have the right man at the right time for the right school. It is a great day for Boyce College. Dr. Hall will be able to build on the great work accomplished by previous teams and direct Boyce College to the future.”
Hall, a two-time alumnus of Southern Seminary (M.Div. and Th.M.), oversaw SBTS enrollment, library, and assessment initiatives in his administrative role in academic services. He also previously served as chief of staff in the Office of the President at Southern Seminary. He earned his Ph.D. in American History from the University of Kentucky and was co-editor of the 2015 book, Essential Evangelicalism: The Enduring Legacy of Carl F.H. Henry.
Hall is an elder at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and a research fellow on the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He previously served on the SBC Committee on Resolutions in 2014 and 2015. Hall met his wife, Jeannie, while he was a student at Grove City College and they have three children: George, Charlie, and Jane.
“In nearly 14 years involved in the life of Southern Seminary, I’ve come to know Boyce College in great detail and have tremendous admiration for its mission and identity in Christian higher education,” Hall said. “I’m excited to join efforts with colleagues in the college and lead it into the future. The challenges facing this generation of Christian men and women are extraordinary and I look forward to seeing how God might use Boyce College to prepare them for more effective service and ministry.”
Since 1998, when Boyce Bible School became Boyce College under Mohler’s leadership, Boyce has grown from six bachelor’s degree programs to 13 and the enrollment expanded to 1,235 students to the 2014-2015 academic year. In May, Boyce conferred degrees to a record 149 students. Boyce has also added a Worldview Certificate program and a seminary track in Biblical and Theological Studies, an intensive program that allows students to earn both B.A. and M.Div. degrees in as few as five years.
“I could not be more excited about Matthew Hall’s appointment as dean at Boyce College,” said Randy L. Stinson, senior vice president for academic administration and provost of Southern Seminary. “Having worked with him for years, I know him to be a man of academic credibility, a man with proven leadership gifts, and a clear, rich history with Southern Seminary and the Southern Baptist Convention. He is a godly man, and I look forward to continue our working relationship.”
Matthew J. Hall named new Dean of Boyce College
