Dr. Robert Wallace Named Director of International Programs at Shorter College

Dr. Robert Wallace, assistant professor of religion at Shorter College, has been selected to serve as director of international programs for the college. His duties include coordinating study abroad opportunities for students wishing to study at one of the institutions with which Shorter has an exchange agreement; Shorter currently has such agreements with educational institutions located on six continents. Also, Dr. Wallace will assist faculty members with the organization of study abroad trips.

In announcing the appointment, Dr. Craig Shull, provost of Shorter College, said, “Dr. Wallace has a strong interest in and commitment to an understanding of globalization. As a faculty member, he relates well to students and possesses the skills necessary to communicate to them the benefits a study abroad experience can bring to their education. In addition, he is well spoken and relates well to everyone he meets, which will be especially helpful in his negotiations with international educational institutions to establish exchange agreements.” 
     
As head of international programs, Dr. Wallace follows Betty Zane Morris, who is retiring at the end of this academic year. She has been on the faculty at Shorter since 1960. Having served as head of the Speech and Communications Departments for many years, she was appointed to be the first director of international studies due to her work with the study abroad programs. Under her leadership, the international studies program has expanded from one university in England to more than 40 universities on six continents; three full-time, month-long, institution-sponsored programs in May; and several other short-term programs.
     
Dr. Wallace participated in two archaeological excavations: one at Tel Beth Shean in 1993, and the other at Tel Rehov in 1998. He has assisted with study abroad trips to Israel and Greece.
      
Dr. Wallace joined the Shorter College faculty in 2005. In addition to his international programs responsibilities, he will continue to teach Biblical Studies courses including Biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek. Having been ordained into the ministry at First Baptist Church of Waco, Texas, in 1997, Dr. Wallace has served as pastor or interim pastor of numerous churches in Texas and Georgia; he currently serves as interim pastor of First Baptist Church in Tucker, Ga.
      
Dr. Wallace earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Religion from William Carey College. There, he received the J.E. Byrd Award as the Outstanding Graduate in Religion. He earned a Ph.D. from Baylor University in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Old Testament. 
      
Dr. Wallace is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion. He lives in Rome with his wife, Cindy, who serves as minister to young families at Garden Lakes Baptist Church. They have two sons, Daniel, 7 1/2, and Thomas, 6.