Board of Commissioners

Board of Commissioners

Current Members

Chair

Betty Holley
Academic Dean; Full Professor of Ecological Theology, Payne Theological Seminary
Wilberforce, OH

Vice Chair and Treasurer

Joe Harrod
Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality;
Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, KY

Secretary

Barbara Mutch
Senior Director of Accreditation
The Association
of Theological Schools
Pittsburgh, PA

Commission Representative to ATS

Alvin Padilla
Dean of Latino and Global Ministries; Professor of New Testament
Gordon Conwell-Theological Seminary
South Hamilton, MA

Class Of 2024

Esther Acolatse
Professor of Pastoral Theology
and World Christianity
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Evanston, IL

Mitzi Budde
Head Librarian;
Arthur Carl Lichtenberger Chair for Theological Research
Virginia Theological Seminary
Alexander, VA

Betty Holley
Academic Dean; Director of MDiv Degree Program;
Full Professor of Ecological Theology
Payne Theological Seminary
Wilberforce, OH

Christine Mitchell
Academic Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible
Knox College
Toronto, ON

Alvin Padilla
Dean of Latino and Global Ministries Program
and Professor of New Testament
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
South Hamilton, MA

Class Of 2026

Joe Harrod
Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness;
Assistant Professor of Biblical Spirituality
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, KY

Rebecca Maloney
Academic Dean and Director of Institutional Effectiveness
Notre Dame Seminary
New Orleans, LA

Mark Morozowich
Associate Professor of Liturgical Studies/Sacramental Theology
Catholic University of America School of Theology and Religious Studies
Washington, DC

Dwight Perry
Senior Vice President, Provost, and Dean of Education
Moody Theological Seminary
Chicago, IL

Jeff Straits
Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Wesley Theological Seminary
Washington, DC

 
Class of 2028

David Cassady
President
Baptist Seminary of Kentucky
Georgetown, KY

Christopher Ciccarino
Associate Dean for Seminary and Academic Studies; Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
Immaculate Conception Seminary
South Orange, NJ

Shively Smith 
Assistant Professor of New Testament;
Director, PhD Program
Boston University School of Theology
Boston, MA

James Thames 
Academic Dean; Professor of Educational
Ministries and Leadership
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas, TX

Public Members

Elizabeth Bennett
Vice President of Finance and Administration
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Lancaster, PA

Elmo Familiaran
Executive Minister (Retired)
The American Baptist Churches of New Jersey
Bordentown, NJ

Michael Higgins
Parochial Vicar
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Herndon, VA

Charla Long
Executive Director
Competency-Based Education Network
Franklin, TN

ATS Accrediting Director Staff

Stephen R. Graham
Director of Accreditation
The Association of Theological Schools
Pittsburgh, PA

Heather Campain Hartung
Director of Accreditation
The Association of Theological Schools
Pittsburgh, PA

James R. Moore
Director of Accreditation
The Association of Theological Schools
Pittsburgh, PA

Barbara Mutch
Senior Director of Accreditation
The Association of Theological Schools
Pittsburgh, PA

Emanuel D. Naydenov
Director of Accreditation
The Association of Theological Schools
Pittsburgh, PA

Valerie Rempel
Director of Accreditation
The Association of Theological Schools
Pittsburgh, PA

Lester Edwin J. Ruiz
Director of Accreditation and Global Engagement
The Association of Theological Schools
Pittsburgh, PA

The academic and professional qualifications and relevant employment and organization information for Commissioners is available upon request from the Commission office. Requests may be submitted by letter (10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1110) or by email. Find contact information for members of the Commission staff.

Monthly summary reports of actions taken by the ATS Commission on Accrediting:

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