CLARKS SUMMIT — Summit University of Pennsylvania selected Lee D. Kliewer to be the new dean of Baptist Bible Seminary. The university made the announcement following the departure of Michael Stallard, who has taken a position at the Friends of Israel organization after 22 years at Baptist Bible. Wayne Slusser, assistant seminary dean, served as interim dean since the close of the spring semester in May.
Bill Higley, vice president of academics, and Jim Lytle, president, worked with the Board of Trustees through the vetting process to select Kliewer for this leadership role. He is the first graduate of Baptist Bible to lead as seminary dean.
Since 2014, Kliewer has been the executive director in the university’s Office of the President.
Kliewer holds a Bachelor of Sacred Music and Master of Ministry from Summit University of Pennsylvania; he earned his Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He brings more than 20 years of ministry experience to his students, as he has served in pastoral roles dating back to 1978. Kliewer joined the administrative team of Baptist Bible in 1998. His educational leadership experience includes serving as the seminary assistant dean, registrar and director of the Doctor of Ministry program. He also leads regular study tours to Israel, is a professor in the Doctor of Ministry program and has served on several professional and educational boards.
Kliewer plans to emphasize relationship building with current students, future students, faculty and churches. He believes the highly qualified faculty, all who hold doctoral degrees in their specific disciplines, are one of the school’s biggest assets. He says the seminary’s four master’s degree programs and two doctoral degree programs are highly successful in balancing academic rigors, hands-on ministry skills and leadership competencies needed for today’s ministry leaders. He also values job placement as another strength; the school places 93 percent of graduates into full-time ministry positions within the first year of graduation.
