Erskine College and Seminary President Dr. Randall T. Ruble has announced the appointment of Dr. Brad Christie as interim vice president and dean of the college.

Christie, an English professor who has worked at Erskine since 1991, will take over his new position on July 1, coinciding with the beginning of the tenure of Dr. David Norman as Erskine’s president.

“I am pleased to announce Dr. Christie’s appointment and I’m sure he will do well in his new position,” Ruble said. “There is no question in my mind that he will be a great asset to the new president.”

Ruble retires June 30 after nearly four years in the office.

“It is a privilege for me to serve as interim vice president and dean during this crucial period of transition to a new presidency,” Christie said. “As the only college faculty member on the Presidential Search Committee, I know Dr. Norman’s vision for Erskine and his leadership style. I think that we will work well together as he acclimates himself and his family to the Erskine community and as he begins work on the challenging agenda before him.”

Christie recently completed a term as chairman of the Faculty Executive Committee and was a member of the committee that recommended Norman to the Board of Trustees as the next leader of the institution. The Board unanimously approved Norman as the next president at its last meeting.

“With the Board of Trustees’ unanimous selection of Dr. David Norman as the 15th president, things are definitely looking up for Erskine College and Seminary,” Christie said. “I am honored to work with Dr. Norman and others to continue such forward progress as Erskine pursues her historic mission.”

A 1979 graduate of Davidson College, Christie earned his master’s degree in English Language and Literature in 1981 from the University of Virginia and was awarded his Ph.D. in English in 1988 from Duke University. He also received a master of divinity degree in 1999 from Erskine Theological Seminary.

Christie joined the Erskine faculty in 1991 as assistant professor of English, and then was elevated to associate professor in 1993 and full professor in 1998.

He has served as chair of the English Department since 2009 and was director of the Erskine Seminar from 2002-09. He is also coordinator of the theater program, was director of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) self-study from 1999-2001, faculty representative for the Board of Trustees from 1995-97 and 1998-2002, chair of the Rhodes Scholarships Endorsement Committee from 1996-98 and is faculty secretary for Omicron Delta Kappa.

Off-campus, Christie has served on the Board of Governors of the Abbeville Opera House since 2008. He also has served as adjudicator of annual state festivals for the Palmetto Dramatic Association and as president, vice president, executive board member and adjudicator of secondary schools auditions and festivals for the South Carolina Theatre Association.

Christie will succeed Dr. Gid Alston, who has served as interim vice president and dean of the college since July 1 of last year, when Dr. Donald Weatherman departed Erskine to become president of Lyon College in Arkansas.

Ruble thanked Alston for his service. “We appreciate the leadership of Dr. Gid Alston, who assumed the role of interim vice president and dean this past year,” Ruble said. “Dr. Alston will resume his former responsibilities in the classroom and in Galloway (Athletic Center).”

Christie expressed appreciation to Alston for his contributions. “Thanks to my colleague Dr. Alston for paving the way to this transition by serving as interim dean during this last year of Dr. Ruble’s presidency,” he said.

Christie and his wife, Gloria, have three children — Parker, Spencer and Luke.

Source: http://www.erskine.edu/news/05.26.10/bc.05.26.10.htm