Leadership & Faculty

Leadership

Tommy Hilliker, MDIV

President

Tommy Hilliker holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University and a Master of Divinity degree from Gateway Seminary. Prior to becoming the second President of Rockbridge Seminary, he served as the Director of Advancement at Vanguard University and was an Executive Pastor for 15 years at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. He has served in local church ministry for over 25 years.

Mark Simpson, PhD

Vice President for Academic Services Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program

Dr. Simpson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spring Arbor College, an Master of Arts in Secondary Education from DePauw University, a Master of Christian Education from Denver Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Simpson previously served at Oakland City University, Indiana as Coordinator of Online Learning and Professor of Christian Education and Religious Studies. He also has served as Dean of Innovative Learning at another distance learning institution, and Associate Dean of Doctoral Studies and Digital Learning at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Faculty

In alignment with Rockbridge Seminary’s mission, professors bring current, hands-on ministry experience to the classroom, strengthened by recognized academic credentials. Professors are assigned to courses that match both their ministry experience, area of academic study, and degree credentials. All faculty teach part-time

Randy Millwood – Church Administration, Leadership
Ed.D., M.R.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S., Cumberland College

John Neesley – Biblical Studies
Ph.D., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
M.Div. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Louisiana State University

Mark Nickens – Church History
Ph.D., M.Div., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Wingate University

Randy Outland – Apologetics
D.Min., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., North Carolina State University

Craig Price – Biblical Studies
Ph.D., M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
M.A., B.A., University of Florida

Charles Redding – Christian Education, Counseling
Ph.D., M.A.M.F.C., M.A.R.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S., University of North Alabama

Kevin Riggs – Religious Studies
D.Phil., Oxford Graduate School
M.A., Trevecca Nazarene University
B.A., Free Will Baptist College

Gerald Sharon – Pastoral Ministries, Ministry Leadership
Ph.D., M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Georgetown College

Sam Simmons – Global Studies Emeritus
Ph.D., M.Div., Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., University of Alabama at Birmingham

Mark Simpson – Christian Education, Church Administration, Leadership, Research Design
Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
M.A., DePauw University
M.A.C.E., Denver Seminary
B.A., Spring Arbor College

Alan Stoddard – Preaching, Evangelism
D.Min., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
M.Div., Grd.Th., Dip.Th., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Gary Waller – Christian Education
Ph.D., University of North Texas
Ph.D., M.R.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S., Baylor University

Kenneth Williams – Ministry Leadership
Ph.D., Regent University
M.A.R.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.M.E., Florida State University

Darryl Wilson – Christian Education
Ed.D., M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Belmont College

Cassandra Jones – Christian Education
Ph.D., M.A.R.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Spellman College

Kenneth Kelly – Christian Ethics
Ph.D., M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S., Clemson University

Rhonda Boggs Kitchen – Pastoral Counseling
D.Min., M.A.C.E., Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
M.S., B.A., California Baptist University

Beverly Jessup – Pastoral Counseling
D.Min., M.Div., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Asbury College

Martin Akins – Biblical Studies
Ph.D., M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Howard Payne University

Tom Bartlett – Church Planting
DMin., Tennessee Temple University
M.Div., Rockbridge Seminary
B.S., Liberty University

Charlie Bass – Christian Education
Ph.D., M.Div., M.A.R.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Mobile College

Randy Bennett – Ministry Leadership, Preaching, Church Revitalization, Pastoral Ministries
D.Min., M.Div., Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., California Baptist University

David Brown – Worship Studies
D.W.S., The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies
M.A., Hope International University
B.A., Johnson Bible College

Jeffrey Brown – Preaching, Evangelism, Hermeneutics
Ph.D., M.Div, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Hannibal LaGrange College

Randy Carney – Ministry Leadership
D.Min., Luther Rice Seminary
M.Div., Memphis Theological Seminary
B.S., Southern Illinois University

Kevin Chenoweth – Christian Education
Ed.D., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
M.A.R.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., B.S., John Brown University

Mark Cook – Christian Education, Ministry Leadership
Ph.D., M.A.R.E. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Hardin-Simmons University

Steve Custer, II – Ministry Leadership
Ed.D., M.S.S.M., B.S., Oakland City University
Th.M., Campbellsville University
M.A., Marshall University
B.M., Georgetown College

Ed Eastman, Jr. – Spiritual Formation
D.Min., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
B.S., Philadelphia College of the Bible

Daryl Eldridge – Christian Education, Curriculum Design & Theory, Ministry Leadership
President Emeritus
Ph.D., M.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Drury College

Gary French – Christian Education, Ministry Leadership
Ed.D., M.A.C.E., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., William Carey College

Randy Grimes – New Testament
DMin., M.Div., Rockbridge Seminary
B.A., California Baptist University
A.A., San Bernardino Valley Junior College

William Gullick – Pastoral Ministry
D.Min., Bakke Graduate University
M.Div., Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Blue Mountain College

Tommy Hilliker – Leadership
M.Div., Gateway Seminary
B.S., Liberty University