Announcement of the Interim Dean of Perkins School of Theology

Elizabeth G. Loboa, Ph. D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Office of the Provost

August 10, 2022

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students

Perkins School of Theology:

I wanted to update you on leadership changes within the Perkins School in response to Dean Craig C. Hill’s planned retirement effective December 31, 2022.

As announced to Perkins faculty earlier today, Bishop Michael McKee has agreed to serve as Dean of the Perkins School ad interim effective January 1, 2023. He will serve until a permanent dean has been named. Bishop McKee’s appointment was informed by meetings this summer with the Perkins Executive Board, faculty, staff and students, and I wish to thank everyone for their thoughtful feedback and recommendations.

Bishop McKee has served as episcopal leader of the North Texas Annual Conference since his election by the South Central Jurisdiction in 2012, and he will retire from that position on January 1, 2023. He will also step down as a member of SMU’s Board of Trustees during his interim deanship over the Perkins School. Next year, Bishop McKee had been appointed to serve Perkins as Bishop in Residence – participating fully in the life of the school but focused heavily on leadership development with students and alums and providing a pastoral presence to the entire Perkins community. As interim dean, he will have the opportunity to provide similar leadership and, at a time of particular challenge within the Methodist denomination, will further strengthen SMU’s ties with donors,  congregations and institutions within our region as well as nationally.

Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Bishop McKee on his assumption of this role on January 1, 2023.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth G. Loboa, PhD

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Southern Methodist University

https://www.smu.edu/provost