news at welch college   Welch College (formerly Free Will Baptist Bible College) in Nashville, TN, has been the official college of the Free Will Baptist Denomination since 1942. To find out more information about the school, visit www.Welch.edu.

 

Sharon Rodgers Named Welch College Registrar

Sharon Rodgers joined the Welch College family as part-time registrar in June, according to Dr. Matthew McAffee, Welch’s provost. She will assume many of the responsibilities of former Registrar Matthew Bracey, who has transitioned to the role of Vice Provost.

Dr. Rodgers attended Welch from 1964-1966 and completed a B.S. in Elementary Education from Belmont University. She also holds the M.A.T. in Educational Leadership from Jacksonville University and the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Rodgers has a long tenure in primary and secondary education. She has many years of experience in the classroom and has spent much of her career as a school administrator in both public and private institutions. For the past eight years, Dr. Rodgers served as elementary school principal at FWB Christian School in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mrs. Rodgers, a native of Alma, Georgia, and niece of Welch founding president L. C. Johnson, has deep roots in the history of Welch College and the Free Will Baptist denomination. McAffee said, “I am thankful Dr. Rodgers has agreed to help us in the Registrar’s Office. Her impressive resume in educational leadership, her love for Welch College, and her personal warmth make her a wonderful addition to the Academic Office. Dr. Rodgers will play an important role in positioning us for future growth.”

Melinda Pinson Named to Staff and Adjunct Faculty

Melinda Pinson, wife of college president, Matt Pinson, began responsibilities as hospitality and donor relations liaison and adjunct instructor at the college, according to Dr. Jeff Crabtree, chairman of the Welch Board of Trustees. Her part-time post additionally revolves around design and campus beautification. Pinson will continue volunteering over and above her part-time role.

“For 15 years, Mrs. Pinson has served the college well in a volunteer capacity, overseeing high-level hospitality events, engaging in donor-relations with key college supporters, training and mentoring young women and ministry wives, consulting on design and beautification issues, teaching etiquette, and more,” Crabtree said. “With the transition to the new campus, the scope of her duties has expanded, and the Board decided to formalize her existing role in this new, part-time position. The Board has always appreciated the grace and excellence Mrs. Pinson brings to the Welch College community, and we’re excited about giving her an official title to match the important role she has played at Welch.”

A graduate of Catawba College (B.A., sociology and philosophy) and Yale University (M.A.R., sociology of religion), she has been married to Welch president Matt Pinson for 23 years. Before the birth of their children, Anna and Matthew, Pinson served in numerous hospitality-industry roles. These included positions at Catawba, Yale, and Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and later executive director of a not-for-profit historic Victorian hotel and restaurant during her years as a pastor’s wife in Georgia.

Pinson has written and spoken on hospitality, biblical womanhood, and ministry wives issues in a number of venues.