Phillips Theological Seminary Announces New Academic Dean

Phillips Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Lisa W. Davison as the next Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean.

“Dr. Davison’s new role will keep Phillips moving into the future while remaining firmly rooted in our Disciples ethos and vision,” said President Nancy Claire Pittman. “Following a national search and in-person visits with four candidates, it was clear that she was the best choice as we reimagine graduate theological education.”

Davison, in her 14th year as Johnnie Eargle Cadieux Professor of Hebrew Bible at Phillips, has been the interim dean since July 1, 2023. She will continue to serve in that capacity before officially assuming her new position July 1, 2024.

“We appreciate Dr. Davison’s commitment to Phillips in a variety of roles over the years,” said Claire Meredith, chair of the Board of Trustees. “She brings a breadth of scholarship, teaching, church and institutional experience to this new role.”

The Rev. Dr. Lisa W. Davison

Davison is a native of Radford, Va. with a BA (Religion and Spanish) from Lynchburg College; an MDiv from Brite Divinity School (TCU), and an MA from Vanderbilt University. She received her PhD in Hebrew Bible from Vanderbilt. She is ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has served congregations in Texas and Kentucky.

Davison has led several academic committees as chair at Phillips while also participating as an active member of many other committees, task forces and groups before serving as interim Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs. She continues to serve as the Formation Director for Disciples of Christ students.

Her newest book is More Than a Womb: Childfree Women in the Hebrew Bible as Agents of the Holy. Davison is also the author of Preaching the Women of the Bible (2006) and has contributed to the following books: The Preacher’s Bible Handbook (2019), Living Pulpit 2018: Sermons in the Stone-Campbell Movement 1968-2018 (2018), and Those Preaching Women: A Multicultural Collection (2008).

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Phillips Theological Seminary offers Christian graduate theological education in service of intelligent, just, and compassionate religious and civic communities. Phillips welcomes students to a safe and brave space for truth-seeking conversations about the Bible, Jesus, and faithful living.