Uniting Baptist Higher Education

The International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities enriches member institutions by stimulating and supporting a quest for high-quality Christian higher education. The Association is a voluntary organization of colleges, universities, and schools that lay claim to their Baptist history, heritage and relationships. It fosters intentional Christian education, while cooperating in the advancement of mutual well-being of each member.
We have 46 member schools consisting of over 100,000 students in 16 states and two countries.

If you would like to join the association, please contact Laurie Hall, Executive Secretary at laurie.hall@baptistschools.org.

Who is eligible to join?

Any institution may apply to the IABCU Board for membership in the Association by documenting the following criteria:

  • A post-secondary institution of Christian higher education accredited by a CHEA (Council on Higher Education Accreditation) recognized accrediting agency appropriate to the mission of the school. International institutions should be approved by either their government or by an accrediting agency in their country recognized by CHEA;
  • Status as a non-profit organization;
  • Affiliation with or in cooperation with a Baptist association or convention;
  • Identification of itself as a Baptist institution;
  • Commitment to the principles historically held by Baptists.

After the IABCU Board makes its recommendation, the decision on membership is made by a majority vote to the members of the Association, guided by their interpretation of the above criteria.

Executive Committee of the Board

  • Bobby Hall
    Bobby Hall Chair

    President, Wayland Baptist University

    1900 West Seventh Street
    Plainview, TX 79072

    Phone: 806-291-3400
    Email: hallb@wbu.edu

  • Rick Brewer
    Rick Brewer Vice-Chair

    President, Louisiana Christian University

    1140 College Drive
    Pineville, LA 71360

    Phone: 318-487-7400
    Email: rick.brewer@lacollege.edu

  • Mike Hardin
    Mike Hardin Treasurer

    Provost, Samford University

    800 Lakeshore Drive
    Birmingham, AL

    Phone: 205-726-2718
    E-mail: mhardin@samford.edu

  • Jeff Iorg
    Jeff Iorg Recording Secretary

    President, Gateway Seminary

    3210 E. Guasti Rd
    Ontario, CA 91761

    Phone: 909-687-1701
    Email: jeffiorg@gs.edu

Board Members

Carolyn Bishop

President, Consortium for Global Education

1663 Mount Vernon Hwy, Ste. 200, Atlanta, GA 30338

Phone: 770-321-4897
E-mail: cbishop@cgedu.org

Blair Blackburn

President, East Texas Baptist University

One Tiger Drive, Marshall, TX 75670

Phone: 903-923-2222
Email: bblackburn@etbu.edu

Jeremy Buckner

Provost, Carson-Newman University

1646 Russell Avenue, Jefferson City, TN 37760

Phone: 865-471-3219
Email: jbuckner@cn.edu

Gary Cook

CHancellor, Dallas Baptist University

3000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211

Phone: 214-333-5130
E-mail: chancellor@dbu.edu

Dondi Costin

President, Charleston Southern University

P.O. Box 118087, Charleston, SC 29423

Phone: 843-863-7500
Email: dcostin@csuniv.edu

Susan DeWoody

Carter Baldwin

Shawnee, OK

Email: sdewoody@carterbaldwin.com

Don Dowless

President, Shorter University

315 Shorter Avenue, Rome GA 30165

Phone:706-233-7201
E-mail:ddowless@shorter.edu

Keith Elder

Provost and EVP, Mississippi College

200 South Capitol Street, Clinton, MS 39058

Phone: 601-925-3201
E-mail: kelder@mc.edu

Gene Fant

President, North Greenville University

P.O. Box 1892, Tigerville, SC 29688

Phone: 864-977-7018
Email: gene.fant@ngu.edu

David Olive

President, Bluefield University

3000 College Drive, Bluefield, VA 24605

Phone: 276-326-4466
E-mail: david.olive@bluefield.edu

Lee Skinkle

Provost, Southwest Baptist University

1600 University Avenue, Bolivar, MO 65613

Phone: 417-326-1601
Email: lskinkle@sbuniv.edu

Heath Thomas

President, Oklahoma Baptist University

500 West University, Shawnee, OK 74804

Phone: 405-585-5801
Email: heath.thomas@okbu.edu