William Carey International University Selects New President
From the wciu Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Paul Cornelius, Ph.D. has been selected to serve as the 10th President of William Carey International University (WCIU). This marks the end of a nine-month discernment process that included a competitive pool of candidates from all over the world. Dr. Cornelius is expected to begin his tenure in January 2023.
Welcome to WCIU Dr. Paul Cornelius!
Dr. Cornelius currently serves as the Regional Secretary of Asia Theological Association (ATA), India based in Bangalore, India. He oversees accreditation and related services including capacity-building, faculty development, strategic alignment, development of scholar leaders, program quality review and more, for approximately 200 institutions of higher education. He has led accreditation teams to more than 100 institutions of higher education in India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North America. His work with Scholar Leaders International with the Vital Sustainability Initiative is worldwide and beyond the reach of ATA. Paul has served as the Principal of the Hindustan Bible Institute and College (2006-2009) where he was instrumental in introducing and implementing the MA in Transformational Urban Leadership program. Over the years, he has served as a pastor, faculty member, and in his early days of ministry as Director of Youth for Christ in New Delhi/Delhi (1988-1996). He received an MTh in New Testament Studies from the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in Bangalore and is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary where he received his PhD in Intercultural Studies. Paul is committed to the cause of Christ, has a global perspective, and a passion for developing scholar-practitioners. Paul, and his wife Mary, have three adult children.
“The University is now poised to enter an exciting new season of growth and development” said Board Chair Monica Mitchell, Ed.D.. She further added, “His extensive knowledge and experience in institutional capacity building as well as his dynamic relational giftings and commitment brings the type of leadership WCIU needs to build into the future. We expect his leadership will allow the University to leverage our unique focus on wholistic development to make a significant and transformative impact. We are thrilled to have Dr. Cornelius join us as the next President of the University and we look forward to working closely with him into the coming years.”
The Board wishes to thank the Presidential Search Committee, Co-Chairs Greg Parsons, Ph.D. and Richard Gunasekera, Ph.D. alongside the following members – Grace May, Th.D., Acting Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Mr. Tom Rutherford, Registrar and Director of Enrollment, and Dr. Monica Mitchell (ex-officio), and the services of FaithSearch Partners for conducting a thorough and orderly search. We are also extremely grateful for the leadership of our Acting President, Peter McLallen, Ph.D., whose dedication and commitment to the University ensured continued cohesiveness, strong stability, and the achievement of important milestones under his tenure. Dr. McLallen will resume his position as Executive Vice President upon the start of the new President.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Cornelius to WCIU! Subscribe to our newsletter below to stay up to date on future events and opportunities to meet our new President.