BUIES CREEK — The 2015 Pine Burr Yearbook was dedicated to Dr. Jerry Wallace at Campbell University’s annual Publications Day event held Monday, April 20.
Wallace, Campbell’s fourth president, will step down from his position on June 30. He has served at Campbell for 45 years as a faculty member, provost and president. Under his leadership, Campbell has seen tremendous growth in academic programs and enhancements to facilities.
“For all of his efforts for Campbell, we want to say ‘Thank you, Dr. Wallace’,” said Elizabeth Wells, print editor of the Pine Burr yearbook. “It’s with great pride that we present the 2015 yearbook to [Wallace].”
Wallace was named the fourth president of Campbell in May 2003 following the retirement of Norman Adrian Wiggins. Wallace, who was vice president for academic affairs and provost from 1984-2001, served as assistant to the president in 2001 and was the James R. Coates Professor of Religion and Society in the Campbell Divinity School during the 2002-03 school year.
A native of Rockingham, North Carolina, Wallace earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Government from East Carolina University. An ordained Baptist minister, Wallace received the Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. He also pursued graduate studies in sociology and higher education administration at North Carolina State University, where he earned his Master of Science and Doctor of Education degrees.
Wallace joined the Campbell faculty in 1970 as an adjunct professor of sociology. He assumed full-time employment at Campbell in 1975 as chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy and Tyner Professor of Religion. He was appointed dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and director of graduate studies in 1981 and vice president for academic affairs and provost in 1984.
Under his presidency, Wallace has seen the additional of new degree programs and schools, including the Catherine W. Wood School of Nursing and Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine.