Terrence L. Johnson, a renowned theological scholar and academic leader, has been appointed as the next Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean of Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Johnson, who is an ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, will begin his five-year term on August 1, 2026.

Johnson’s Background and Experience

Johnson is currently the director of religion and public life and Charles G. Adams Professor of African American Religious Studies at Harvard Divinity School. He has a strong record of institutional leadership, having expanded the program’s reach, restored interfaith relationships, and built executive education programs during his tenure at Harvard.

Johnson’s research focuses on African American religions, political theory, and American history, exploring questions of democracy, ethics, justice, and the role of religion in public life. He is the author of several books, including Tragic Soul-Life: W.E.B. Du Bois and the Moral Crisis Facing American Democracy and We Testify with Our Lives: How Religion Transformed Radical Thought from Black Power to Black Lives Matter.

Johnson’s Vision for Candler School of Theology

Johnson expressed his excitement about joining Candler School of Theology and Emory University, stating that he is committed to building on the school’s strengths and facilitating engagement around vital issues of our time. He believes that Candler can be a premier institution for forming learned clergy, engaged religious leaders, and outstanding scholars of theology and religious studies.

Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.