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Erskine Names Interim President after Yearlong Search

Erskine College and Seminary named its new interim president, officials said Tuesday, after a nearly yearlong search that began in January following an announcement by its former president that he was stepping down from the post he held for seven years.

Board members, some of whom are also on the presidential search committee, applauded the naming of Dr. Luder Whitlock as interim president.

"Dr. Whitlock's academic, management and fund development credentials are excellent, as is his in-depth knowledge of both Erskine College and Seminary and the ARP (Associate Reformed Presbyterian) Church,” said Board and search committee member Craig White in a public announcement made on Tuesday. “He is the ideal academic executive to assist Erskine on an interim basis until the search for Erskine's new president is completed."

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John Moore, chairman of the Erskine Board of Trustees, said the process to find the college’s new president would continue, however, until one was found, but placed no timetable on that process. In the meantime, Moore said Whitlock, who begins his duties as interim president on Thursday, would work with the senior administrative team at the college on priority projects, coordination of administrative activities and completion of the Gold Campaign.

"Erskine is fortunate to have the services of Dr. Luder Whitlock as interim president — a person with 23 years of proven presidential leadership and senior administrative experience," Moore said. "He is a strong supporter of the mission of Erskine and knows the Erskine market extremely well."

According to the college's announcement, Moore said Whitlock has provided Erskine with assistance on special matters and projects.

"He has learned a great deal about Erskine, its mission and its supporters," Moore was quoted as saying. "This recent Erskine experience, blended with his years of presidential experience, will provide valuable assistance to Erskine during this interim period."

Currently, Whitlock is executive director of The Trinity Forum, a leadership academy offering seminars, discussions and other events for thousands of leaders in North America, Europe and Asia. He is also president of Teleios, a nonprofit organization that produces learning resources and experiences with a current emphasis on establishing a new standard for e-learning and distance learning materials.

"I have been familiar with Erskine's excellent program and reputation for years, so I was honored to be invited to assist with its continued progress during this interim," said Whitlock in the Nov. 29 announcement. "I look forward to working closely and enthusiastically with the board, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Erskine as we combine our efforts to achieve its mission."

For many years Whitlock served on the executive committee of the Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents, including eight years as chairman. For eight years he served on the executive committee of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the U.S. and Canada, including a two-year term as president. He was one of only five evangelicals to do so in the history of ATS. His service to higher education also took him to the boards of the National Commission on Higher Education, the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, the International Theological Seminary, the International Leadership University, the International Graduate School of Theology, Covenant College, and Westminster Theological Seminary. In addition, he serves on the advisory boards of organizations such as InTrust and the International Institute for Christian Studies.

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