Watson named Executive Director of Faith and Learning Institute

Dr. Jonathan Watson, chair and professor of Christian studies, has been named executive director for the Faith and Learning Institute.

Dr. Michael Wilder, provost and VPAA, said, “This is an important role in the life of CSU as we seek to fulfill our vision of being a Christian university nationally recognized for integrating faith in learning, leading, and serving.”

The CSU Faith and Learning Institute promotes a biblical faith integration approach to Christian higher education, which affirms the following principles: 1) the Bible is the lens for understanding truth, 2) there is a unity between the Christian faith and knowledge, and 3) Christian educators must seek to bring their diverse disciplines into a unified, distinctively Christian worldview. 

In recent years, the Faith and Learning Institute has taken important steps to develop stronger faith integration training for new faculty as well as to provide ongoing faith integration for existing faculty. Watson said, “Good work has been done. However, there is more work to do. I’m eager to help us continue development in these areas. With a world-class faculty, administration, and staff who are committed to Christ and his Word, CSU is poised to become a nationally recognized leader in faith integration. This is my hope and prayer for us.”

Watson holds a PhD in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, an MDiv with an emphasis in Christian thought from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a BA in Christian studies from Ouachita Baptist University. He is the author of In the Name of Our Lord: Four Models of the Relationship Between Baptism, Catechesis, and Communion (Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology) and has served the Faith and Learning Institute in various capacities since 2020. 

He and his wife, Karen, have four children and attend Northwood Baptist Church where he serves part-time as associate pastor of ministry training. 

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