Jacksonville College Names New President

The trustee board of Jacksonville College met on campus in Jacksonville, Texas July 7 and named Dr. David Erickson as the new president of the college. He will officially assume his new duties on July 31. Dr. Erickson was the unanimous nomination of the executive search team.

Dr. Erickson is a native of Missouri, and his family has been in the BMA since its founding. He is a graduate of Central Baptist College in Conway, has a Master of Divinity degree from BMA Theological Seminary in Jacksonville and received a PhD in Baptist Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

For the last 14 years, Dr. Erickson has served as a professor of Theological-Historical Studies at BMA Theological Seminary. He also served the seminary for eight years as Associate Dean. He is completing his eighth year as a trustee of Texas Baptist Home for Children, including four as the chairman of the board. He was ordained to the gospel ministry by Craft Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Texas and is a former pastor of Blackjack Baptist Church in Troup, Texas.

Dr. Erickson first met his wife, Amanda on the campus of Jacksonville College while he was attending seminary and she was an admissions counselor for the college. They have been married for 18 years and have two sons — Ezra and Elijah. The Ericksons are the founders of Flourishing Homes & Families, a teaching ministry to assist parents in living a Jesus-centered faith as a family. They are members of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Jacksonville and reside in rural Cherokee County near Jacksonville.

Dr. Erickson outlined his plans and priorities for Jacksonville College (JC) prior to the trustees’ official vote. He hopes to find renewed resources for the college in the JC alumni association, the Jacksonville business community and additional support from BMA of Texas churches. He also cast a vision for both short and long term advancements for the college, which will be celebrating its 125^th anniversary next year.