Hiwassee College Names Dr. Charles Neal Interim President

  • Thursday, January 20, 2011
Hiwassee College Trustee Carol Wilson welcomes new Interim President Dr. Charles T. Neal to campus on Tuesday.  Following his introduction, Dr. Neal greeted Hiwassee faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Hiwassee College Trustee Carol Wilson welcomes new Interim President Dr. Charles T. Neal to campus on Tuesday. Following his introduction, Dr. Neal greeted Hiwassee faculty, staff, students and alumni.

The Hiwassee College Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Charles Neal as interim president, effective Jan. 18. Dr. Neal comes to Hiwassee after retiring as senior pastor of First-Centenary United Methodist Church in Chattanooga.

Dr. Neal takes the helm from Dr. Jerry Russell who served as interim from March, 2010, until the end of the year, while simultaneously serving as pastor of Fairview United Methodist Church in Maryville.

“We are grateful for Dr. Russell’s service to Hiwassee,” said Hiwassee Trustee Carol Wilson on Tuesday, during Dr. Neal’s introduction. “Dr. Russell stepped in and selflessly donated his time as the college got federal and state funding programs restored. He now needs to return to Fairview full-time. We are very honored and pleased to have Dr. Neal take over and provide leadership while the board conducts the search for the next president of Hiwassee College.”

Dr. Neal received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee and his Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He was bestowed with an honorary Doctorate from Tennessee Wesleyan College.

He has served as pastor of the campus church at Emory & Henry College, as a member of the board of trustees at Emory & Henry, on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and on the Executive Committee of the Board for Chattanooga Goodwill Industries.

Dr. Neal and his wife Brenda, who teaches Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, are the parents of three grown children and six grandchildren.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to serve the college and the Holston Conference in this capacity,” said Dr. Neal. “Through the years, I’ve been on the Hiwassee campus on several occasions and I’ve always known that Hiwassee is a wonderful place and is an important mission of the church. I look forward to helping the college to continue to progress and grow.”

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