A People’s Story
in Black & White

A Timeline of Increasing Diversity

The pace of racial diversity and inclusion in students, faculty and administration has slowly grown over the years with graduation of the first Black student to the more recent promotion of the first Black man to a tenured position.

1991
Dr. Marcia J. Riggs was elected to the faculty. The first Black woman on the faculty, today she holds the positions of J. Erskine Love Professor of Christian Ethics and Ombudsperson.

Ernestine Cole joined the staff as Associate Dean of Students. She was also Interim Dean of Students for a period from late 2005 to early 2006.

1992
Golden Griffieth joined the staff for facility maintenance.

2001
Dr. Emmanuel Lartey appointed Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care.

Griselda Lartey joined the library staff as Catalog Assistant. Read More

Linda Quick joined the staff as housekeeper.

2007
Dr. Jeffrey Tribble joined Columbia’s faculty as Associate Professor of Ministry. In 2019, was named Dean of Advanced Professional Studies. Read More

2010
Dr. Deborah Flemister Mullen called as Dean of Faculty and Executive Vice President, the first Black woman to hold that position in a PC (USA) seminary. Dr. Mullen is now Professor Emeritus.

2011
Dr. John Azumah joined Columbia’s faculty as Professor of World Christianity and Islam.

2015
Dr. Michael Cook hired as Adjunct faculty member to teach Pastoral Care and Theology.

2018
Rev. Brandon Maxwell, hired in 2016 as Dean of Students, was promoted to Vice President for Student Affairs and Community Life and serves as the Special Advisor to the President on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Read More

Dr. Love L. Sechrest called to be Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty, and Associate Professor of New Testament. Read More

Dr. Lisa Weaver appointed Assistant Professor of Worship. Read More

2019

Dr. Mitzi Smith appointed J. Davison Philips Professor of New Testament. Read More

Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins appointed to the Peachtree Chair of Evangelism and Church Growth. He as the first African American man to hold an endowed chair and was promoted to full professor in 2020. Read More

Learn about other influential women of color at Columbia here.