At Southwestern Seminary, the executive vice president and provost, as the chief academic officer, is the second ranking administrative officer and is responsible to the president and board of trustees for the academic administration of the seminary. The board of trustees elected Craig Blaising executive vice president and provost and professor of theology in October 2001, and he began serving on January 1, 2002.
Dr. Craig Blaising came to Fort Worth from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he had served since 1995 and was the Joseph Emerson Brown Professor of Christian Theology and associate vice president for doctoral studies. Before that, Blaising served at Dallas Theological Seminary for 15 years, eventually as professor of systematic theology. In 1978, Blaising was the first faculty member to occupy the Evangelical Bible Chair at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Blaising earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, a Master of Theology and a Doctor of Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a recognized authority in patristic studies and eschatology. His numerous scholarly works include co-authoring Progressive Dispensationalism, co-editing Dispensationalism, Israel and The Church: The Search For Definition, and contributing to the Counterpoints volume, Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond. He also wrote the commentary on Malachi for the Bible Knowledge Commentary as well as co-edited the volume, Psalms 1-50, in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. His forthcoming works include a contribution to the Counterpoints volume, Three Views on the Rapture and the Tribulation.
Blaising is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. He was elected as the organization’s national president in 2005 and served as president of the Southwest Region in 1986-87. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the International Association of Patristic Studies, the North American Patristic Society, and the Society of Biblical Literature.
Born and raised in Boston, Mass., Dr. Edward H. Pauley has a background in academic administration spanning 40 years. He has served at the University of Rhode Island, Biola University, Eastern College (now Eastern University), International Christian Graduate University in San Bernardino, Calif., Dallas Baptist University, and the University of North Texas. He has a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Arts from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., all in philosophy. He is the author of numerous books and articles including Footsteps to Follow and the Men’s and Women's Devotional Prayer Journal, all published by Word.
Dr. Gregory Smith came to Southwestern Seminary after serving as an assistant to the associate vice president for doctoral studies at Southern Seminary and children’s pastor at First Baptist Church of Sellersburg, Ind. He has a Doctor of Philosophy degree and an Advanced Master of Divinity degree from Southern Seminary, a Master of Arts degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., and a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, Institute for Biblical Research and Society of Biblical Literature.
Dr. Mark Leeds arrived at Southwestern after serving as the assistant registrar at Southeastern Seminary. He holds the Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Divinity from Southeastern Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He teaches systematic theology and Fine Arts Perspectives on Life.