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Princeton, N.J. — Princeton Theological Seminary will inaugurate Reverend Dr. Jonathan Lee Walton as its eighth president on Friday, October 13, 2023. The ceremony will also officially install Walton—who began his tenure in January—as a professor of religion and society. An alumnus of the institution, Walton is the first African American and first ordained Baptist minister to lead the 211-year-old Presbyterian seminary.
“We are delighted to celebrate the beginning of Dr. Walton’s tenure as Princeton Seminary’s eighth president along with our vibrant learning community,” said Michael Fisch, chair of the board of trustees. “Since he assumed his role in January, it has been exciting to watch his vision for our institution start to take shape and to give more people the opportunity to learn from our incredible faculty and access our world-class resources. Under his leadership, I am confident that Princeton Seminary will thrive for generations to come.”
The inauguration celebration—Prayer, Purpose, and Possibility: A Learning Community for Life—symbolizes an embodiment of Princeton Seminary’s core values. Prayer grounds the work of the seminary. Purpose signifies its enduring mission and rich tradition of training Christian servants since 1812. And Possibility is the dedication to innovation, acknowledging the ongoing commitment to expanding conceptions of whom God calls and how we are called to serve the world.
Walton is strengthening Princeton Seminary’s standing as the global leader of theological education by growing and diversifying opportunities, while maintaining high academic standards.
“It is a tremendous honor to lead this community of change leaders. We are committed to developing faith-informed solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges, and this work has never been more critical for the future of our institution and of the communities served by our vast network of alumni around the world,” said Dr. Jonathan Lee Walton, seminary president. “No matter what field you work in or where you’re working from, our flexible and accessible programs will inform and enrich your Christian witness.”
Walton is trained as a social ethicist whose scholarship focuses on the intersection of evangelical Christianity, mass media, and political culture. He is the author of two books: “Watch This! The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism” (NYU Press, 2009) and “A Lens of Love: Reading the Bible in Its World for Our World” (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018). He has published widely across various academic journals, books, magazines, and newspapers. His insights have been featured in the New York Times, CNN, Time Magazine, and PBS.
“I’m deeply humbled to return to an institution that played such a significant role in shaping me professionally and personally,” Walton said. “My wife Cecily and I began our marriage here; our twins were born here; and now my youngest son is growing up here. The chance to give back to this transformative community is more than just a role—it’s a glorious call.”
Dr. Walton earned his PhD and his MDiv from Princeton Seminary, and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College. On January 1, 2023, Dr. Walton succeeded President M. Craig Barnes, who served as Princeton Seminary’s president since January 2013.
Media interested in attending the inauguration celebration should RSVP to Meg Geoghegan at meg@clarendoncommunications.com.
