Leadership at LPTS

Our President

On June 7, 2018, the Louisville Seminary Board of Trustees appointed the Rev. Dr. Alton B. Pollard III as Louisville Seminary’s tenth president. Pollard succeeds the Rev. Dr. Michael Jinkins, who served as president from 2010 to 2018. Pollard formally began his service with Louisville Seminary on September 3, 2018.

A scholar, author, consultant and speaker on the subject of African American and U.S. religion and culture, Pollard was previously dean of the School of Divinity and professor of Religion and Culture at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Pollard said he was drawn both by the history and the current trajectory of Louisville Seminary.

“Rare is the theological institution today that innovates well in contemporary society, modeling theological education for just inclusivity in an increasingly diverse world,” Pollard said. “As much of our society is focused on division, I will ensure that Louisville Seminary will continue to build bridges between people of different religious, social and cultural perspectives, through teaching and scholarship, and the preparation of persons for lives of faithful witness and public service.”

Prior to his eleven years at Howard University, Pollard served as director of Black Church Studies and chair of American Religious Cultures at Emory University, and taught at Wake Forest University and St. Olaf College. He earned degrees from Duke University, Harvard University Divinity School and Fisk University.

Pollard is the author of Mysticism and Social Change: The Social Witness of Howard Thurman (1992), editor of an edition of W.E.B. DuBois’s The Negro Church (2011), and co-authored of Helpers for a Healing Community: A Pastoral Care Manual for HIV/AIDS (2006). He has also edited and co-edited several volumes including How Long This Road: Race, Religion and the Legacy of C. Eric Lincoln (2003); The Papers of Howard Washington Thurman Volumes I and II (2009); and The Black Church Studies Reader (2016). He has also written dozens of book chapters, journal articles, and op-eds.

He serves on the Board of Directors for the In Trust Center for Theological Schools and the Advisory Committee for the Luce Fund for Theological Education. He served on the Board of Commissioners for the Association of Theological Schools from 2010–2016 and was chair from 2014–2016. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Pollard and his wife Jessica have two adult children and one grandson.

Publications and Presentations by Alton B. Pollard III

Publications

Presentations

Get to Know Alton

Senior Administrative Leadership

The President meets regularly with senior administrative officers: the Dean of the Seminary, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Dean of Community Life, the Vice President for Philanthropy & Stewardship, and the Executive Director of the Louisville Institute.

The primary purposes of these meetings are to facilitate communication among the four major areas of the Seminary and the Louisville Institute and to provide a forum for mutual exchange, support and encouragement.

Kilen Gray

Dean of Community Life
Email Kilen

Gerardo Marti

Louisville Institute, Interim Director
Email Gerardo

Anne E. Monell, CFRE

VP, Philanthropy and Stewardship
Email Anne

Debra Mumford

Seminary Dean;
Frank H. Caldwell Professor of Homiletics
Email Debra

Theresia Smith

Interim VP, Finance and Administration
Email Theresia

Student Body Representatives

Mohlatlego Makgoba

President

Alex Pickell

Clerk

Deidre Allen

Representative

Callan Kennedy

Representative

Jeanique Mitchell

Representative

Mika Rangal

Representative

Kat Sappington

Representative

Melissa Worthey

Representative

Title IX Coordinator

Title IX prohibits schools, colleges, and universities that receive federal funds from discriminating based on sex—whether in the form of different treatment, or hostile educational environment created by sexual harassment or assault. The Title IX Coordinator oversees all aspects of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s (LPTS) compliance with Title IX, including policies and procedures related to sexual misconduct and other forms of sex discrimination, coordinating the training of students, faculty and staff, and ensuring that assault survivors have access to appropriate resources and support.

LPTS prohibits all forms of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct. This policy in the Student Handbook outlines student expectations, reporting options, and resources for all students, employees, Seminary visitors, or third parties within the Seminary community, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Reporting Options

Any person may report sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, in person, by mail, by phone, or by email.

Rev. Kilen Gray, D.Min
Dean of Community Life and Title IX Coordinator
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
1044 Alta Vista Road
Louisville, KY 40205-1798
502-895-3411 x367
kgray@lpts.edu

Governance

The manner in which the Seminary community governs itself exhibits how important each person’s contribution is to the interdependent working of the community. Constitutional authority for the governance of the Seminary rests with the Board of Trustees, which has delegated certain governance responsibilities to the faculty.

The oversight of the immediate operation of the Seminary is provided by the faculty and various offices of the administration. The faculty exercises certain of its responsibilities through a Seminary Plan of Governance, which includes members from all parts of the community, including students’ spouses, who meet in standing committees to take on community, church, and wider world issues and offer recommendations to the decision-making body called the Seminary Council. The Council includes members of the faculty, some administrators, staff representatives, and students elected by the student body.

The Seminary Council has approximately one student member for every two faculty members. There are five standing committees that help the community remain faithful to God’s call in the community and the world: the Academic Committee; Christian Life Committee; Community Affairs Committee; Committee on Cultural and Religious Diversity; and the Gender and Ministry Committee. These committees and their task forces are responsible for the many social activities and learning experiences that bind together the people of God.

Governance Manual

Board of Trustees

The management and control of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary is vested in its Board of Trustees, an elected body of up to 37 members. The Trustees give oversight to the operations of the Seminary through shared governance with the Seminary President and its faculty. The Trustees elect the President and faculty and confer degrees. The Board of Trustees has responsibility for the policies governing all aspects of Seminary life.

The Board of Trustees meets twice each year for two to three days. The work of the Board is accomplished through its committees, including the following standing committees: Executive, Academic Affairs, Finance, Philanthropy & Stewardship, Audit, Governance, and Student Life.

For information about the Board of Trustees and its membership contact the Office of the President.

By-Laws

Board Members

Officers of the Board

  • Chair, Elizabeth Clay
  • Vice Chair, Tim Stoepker
  • Secretary, Glen Bell

Honorary Life Members

  • Lant B. Davis, Birmingham, Ala.
  • Bari Johnson, Spring Lake, Mich.
  • Pamela G. Kidd, West Olive, Mich.
  • Robert L. Reed, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Lloyd E.A. Reuss, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
  • Dorothy (Dot) Ridings, Louisville, Ky.
  • F. Morgan Roberts, Ellenton, Fla.
  • Jane L. Stevenson, Owensboro, Ky.
  • Suzanne W. Whaley, Naples, Fla.

Trustees

  • Lisa D. Allgood, Cincinatti, Ohio
  • Glen Bell, Louisville, Ky.
  • Mary Gene Boteler, Westerville, Ohio
  • Elizabeth Clay, Louisville, Ky.
  • Robert Close, Purcellville, Va.
  • Laurie L. Deacon, Gates Mills, Ohio
  • Amos J. Disasa, Dallas, Texas
  • Dan Ellinor, Austin, Texas
  • Nancy M. Falls, Nashville, Tenn.
  • Michael Gilligan, Columbus, Ohio
  • Lyle S. Hanna, Lexington, Ky.
  • Alice Houston, Louisville, Ky.
  • Wayne Kramer, Knoxville, Tenn.
  • Patricia Maloney, Huntsville, Ala.
  • Joseph J. Nash, Greenville,
  • Miss. Katherine Nyberg, Birmingham, Mich.
  • Alton B. Pollard, III, Seminary President, Louisville Seminary
  • Donald J. Ridings, Jr. Chevy Chase, Md.
  • Edwin C. Sanders, II, Nashville, Tenn.
  • Anne Steele, Gates Mills, Ohio
  • Tim Stoepker, Grand Haven, Mich.
  • Lee Walthall, Birmingham, Ala.
  • Katina Whitlock, Louisville, Ky.
  • Polly Williams, Waxahachie, Texas
  • John Willingham, Doylestown, Penn.

Seminary Council

The Seminary Council consists of all faculty, 10 students, the Staff Moderator and an additional representative from the staff, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Vice President for Philanthropy & Stewardship, the Director of the Library, the Registrar, the Dean of Community Life, the Director of Recruitment and Admissions, the Executive Director of the Louisville Institute, the Associate Director of the Louisville Institute, the Coordinator of Academic Support Services, the Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, the Director of Clinical Training, the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, and the Director of Field Education; all of these Council members have voice and vote.

The areas of responsibility of the Seminary Council are spelled out in the Plan of Governance. They involve specific responsibility for the MDiv, MAR, and MFT curricula and community life.

The President, the Dean, or the President of the Student Body presides.

Faculty Council

The primary responsibilities of the Faculty Council include the review of students; changes in the MDiv, MAR, and DMin curricula; the hiring, periodic review, and promotion of faculty, including adjunct and visiting faculty; review of sabbatical proposals and reports; and meeting accreditation requirements of recognized accrediting agencies for all academic programs. Tenured faculty members have oversight of the hiring and promotion of faculty members. (Some of the foregoing actions require approval by the Board of Trustees; see By-Laws for details.)

The faculty normally meets at the conclusion of the Seminary Council meetings or upon call of the President. The President presides at faculty meetings; in the absence of the President, the Dean presides.

Administrative and Staff Council

The Administrative and Staff Council is composed of all administrative members of the Seminary. Its purposes are to provide communication within the administration, to identify emerging problems or issues to be addressed, and to offer education about the intersecting areas of the Seminary’s life. It normally meets once a month during the academic year, and the President presides.

LPTS Partners

Denominational Partners

Special Partners

Accrediting Agencies

Consortia

Degree Program Partners

Cooperative Relationships