Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has named W. Madison Grace II to the roles of provost and vice president for academic administration and dean of the School of Theology. The announcement leading up to the fall semester on Tuesday (July 12) included two other new leadership appointments.
President David S. Dockery announced Dean Sieberhagen, associate professor of Islamic Studies, will serve as interim dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, and Carl J. Bradford, assistant professor of evangelism, has been named interim associate dean of the Fish School.
Grace
Grace, who has served as the interim dean of the School of Theology since January, began teaching at Southwestern in 2014 as assistant professor of Baptist history and theology. Additionally, he has previously served as the managing editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology and director of the seminary’s Research Doctoral Studies Program. Grace, who is also associate professor of theology and director of the institution’s Oxford Study Program, is co-editor of the 2021 Kregel publication Making Disciples of All Nations: A History of Southern Baptist Missions.
Grace earned both his master of divinity with biblical languages (2006) and doctor of philosophy in systematic theology (2012) degrees from Southwestern Seminary. He also holds a bachelor of arts in Christian studies degree from Mississippi College.
Sieberhagen
Sieberhagen, who served as an International Mission Board missionary in Central Asia from 1999 to 2012, has served at Southwestern since 2013.
“Dr. Sieberhagen is a seasoned missionary and missiologist and an outstanding classroom teacher, who is greatly appreciated by students and faculty,” Dockery said.
A native of South Africa, Sieberhagen has served as associate professor of Islamic Studies, Vernon D. and Jeannette Davidson Chair of Missions and director of the Islamic Studies Program at Southwestern. He was the 2023 recipient of the David S. and Lanese Dockery Award for Teaching Excellence, an annual award that honors the professor nominated by faculty colleagues for faithful teaching of students and personal care and concern for students’ spiritual development inside and outside of the classroom.
Sieberhagen earned a doctor of philosophy from the University of South Africa, a master of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelor of commerce from Rhodes University. He also holds a post-graduate diploma in education.
Bradford
Bradford, the inaugural occupant of the Malcolm R. and Melba L. McDow Chair of Evangelism, has served as assistant professor of evangelism at Southwestern since 2018.
“Dr. Bradford is a gifted and committed evangelist who is deeply committed to Southwestern,” Dockery said of the two-time Southwestern Seminary graduate.
Bradford teaches in the areas of contemporary evangelism and the theology of evangelism and missions, and he has served as the faculty leader of Southwestern’s Crossover teams at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting for the last six years. Additionally, he leads groups of students in Everyday Evangelism, a weekly ministry opportunity that allows Southwestern and Texas Baptist College students to visit various places in the Fort Worth area to share the Gospel.
In addition to his Southwestern Seminary master of divinity and Ph.D. degrees, Bradford earned a bachelor of science in business administration from Xavier University located in his hometown of New Orleans.
All new roles are effective immediately.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ashley Allen and originally published by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
