Oakwood University Senior Chaplain Appointment

After a four-month search process, on August 17, 2011, Dr. Howard Weems was invited by Oakwood University President, Dr. Leslie Pollard to serve as Senior Chaplain and Special Assistant to the President for Spiritual Life at Oakwood Unviersity.  Dr. Weems has officially accepted the new appointment.
 
An ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister and professional psychologist, Dr. Weems has served for more than 10 years in the psychology department of Oakwood University.  He has served the last six years as Chair of the Psychology Department.  While Dr. Weems will provide oversight to the entire spiritual program of the University, we have asked Dr. Weems to provide a special focus on the nurture and support of the spirituality of our Oakwood University Faculty members.
 
"What became clear during this search process" says Dr. Pollard, "is that Dr. Weems reflected all the needed qualifications and skills, but never sought the appointment.  Our committee was led to inquire of him whether serving as Senior Chaplain might be something that he would be interested in.  When Dr. Weems indicated that he had been praying about his future ministry, we took his testimony as a sign and we knew that God was leading us in our process. Dr. Weems is known as a man of sterling integrity, deep spirituality, keen intelligence, and unusual insight.  He is exactly the right clergy academic for this unique role in our University.  Our community will be blessed through his leadership."
 
Elder T. Marshall Kelley, who has served as Interim Chaplain at Oakwood University for the last year, will move to Associate Chaplain for the nurture and support of our Oakwood University Staff.  In the near future, we will be hiring our Associate Chaplains (one male, one female) who will have a special focus on Oakwood University Student spirituality.  Immediately thereafter, we will be introducing a program for the development of student chaplains.
 
Dr. Weems has been married to the former Stephanie Moffatt for 29 years.  Mrs. Weems is a Nurse Practcioner and is a graduate of Oakwood University.  The Weems are the parents of two young adult children.  Their daughter, Lequcha Weems, is a graduate of Oakwood University, and a graduate of Andrews University.  She specializes in Math and Science education while teaching in Montgomery, Ala.  Their son Zachary, is a Senior at Oakwood University, majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
 
Let us welcome Dr. Weems to this new role and support him with our prayers.

Leslie N. Pollard, Ph.D., D.Min., MBA
President, Oakwood University