Dr. Terry Cross, left, presents Dr. William George with the Lee University School of Religion’s 2014 Distinguished Alumnus award.
photo by Hannah Morgan
The Lee University School of Religion honored Dr. William T. George as the department’s distinguished alumnus for this year. The award was presented during this year’s homecoming festivities by Dr. Terry Cross, dean of Lee’s SOR.
“Throughout his ministry, Bill George has consistently mentored young ministers and missionaries,” said Lee professor Dr. Thomas J. Doolittle. “He has dynamically impacted the lives of numerous pastors and ministry leaders who are serving the church in a variety of contexts.”
Dr. George currently serves as the editorial assistant to the General Overseer for the Church of God. Previously, he has held pastoral/staff positions in Alabama, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and the Bahamas, as well as various leadership positions within the COG. A Lee graduate, Dr. George has also served as an associate professor in the School of Religion, earning the Excellence in Teaching award.
“I do not know any other minister in the Church of God who has directly influenced so many ministers through relationship building and personal interactions,” continued Dr. Doolittle. “I am deeply grateful to Bill George for the energy and encouragement that he has extended to me and countless others throughout his ministry as a professor, pastor, missionary, mentor, and friend.”
He earned his doctorate in ministry and a master’s degree in missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary as well as a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. George has been awarded the Wall Street Journal Fellowship and was named an Alumnus of the Year by Lee University’s Upsilon Xi in 1985.
Dr. George has published nine books over the last four decades.
Dr. George is on the board of directors for People for Care and Learning, Cleveland Rotary Foundation, Serving Orphans Worldwide, New Hope Pregnancy Care Center, T.L. Lowery Global Foundation, Rotary Club of Cleveland, Compleo, United Way, and Youth Counseling Services.
Furthermore, he is also on the COG General Board of Education, the North Cleveland COG Church and Pastor’s Council, and the Firewall Steering Committee for the COG World Missions.
Dr. George and his wife Nelda have two sons, Michael and David.
Lee University’s Department of Business honored Dr. Glenda Weinert as the distinguished alumnus for this year. The award was presented by department chair Dewayne Thompson at a departmental breakfast during Lee’s Homecoming festivities.
“Glenda was always the type of student you looked forward to having in class; you knew her work was going to be done well and she was there to learn,” said Dr. Thompson. “That same spirit follows her even today, as evidenced by completing a doctorate and staying heavily involved in her church, state, and community.”
In her home state of North Carolina, Dr. Weinert has been appointed by the governor to serve on the North Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council and by the speaker of the house as the chair of the North Carolina Childcare Commission. She also serves as sustaining advisor to the board of the Junior League of Asheville, is the treasurer for the Children’s Welfare League, a board member of the Asheville Buncombe Medical Ministry, and a board member for the Irene Wortham Center (an inclusion childcare program).
Dr. Weinert teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in the business department. Previously, she grew a family-owned company from one to five locations throughout Buncombe County with over 700 children served and the highest possible state rating.
Currently, Dr. Weinert does consulting work specializing in cost savings analysis for various companies including childcare providers.
Dr. Weinert earned her doctorate from the University of Phoenix and her master’s degree in business administration from Kennesaw State University after graduating from Lee University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She has been married to her husband Clint for 24 years and they have two sons, Dylan and Brett. Dr. Weinert and her family currently live in Asheville, N.C.
Dr. DeWayne Thompson, right, presenting Dr. Glenda Weinert with the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus award during the Department of Business Homecoming breakfast.
photo by