The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has announced that Dr. Hershael W. York will conclude his service as Dean of the School of Theology at the end of the 2025–26 academic year. Following the conclusion of his tenure, Dr. Andrew T. Walker will assume the role of Dean of the School of Theology, beginning August 1, 2026.
President R. Albert Mohler, Jr. announced the transition during the seminary’s fall trustee meeting, describing it as a moment of both gratitude and confidence in the Lord’s continued blessing on Southern Seminary. “This is a significant moment in the life of the seminary and a clear example of God’s continued kindness to this institution,” Mohler said. “The Dean of the School of Theology stands at the heart of our academic mission, giving leadership to the faculty who shape every minister trained here. I am profoundly thankful for Dr. York’s faithful leadership and equally thankful for Dr. Walker’s readiness to take up this stewardship.”
President Mohler continued, “Dr. York has changed history as Dean of the School of Theology with remarkable skill and a remarkable heart. At a moment of institutional need, he led with conviction and care. I am deeply thankful for all that he has given to this school and to our students.” He continued, “Dr. Walker is a remarkable figure of great influence in the evangelical world, and I am thankful for the ability to have a transition in this role from strength to strength.”
Hershael W. York, who has served as the 11th Dean of the School of Theology since 2018, will continue his service on the faculty as the Victor and Louise Lester Professor of Christian Preaching. A beloved preacher, pastor, and professor, York has shaped generations of students in both the classroom and the pulpit, modeling a ministry defined by conviction, clarity, and compassion. Under his leadership, the School of Theology has strengthened its academic excellence, faculty unity, and pastoral focus. He has overseen faculty appointments that have advanced the seminary’s mission, guided curriculum enhancements to ensure robust biblical and theological training, and invested deeply in mentoring the next generation of pastors and preachers.
Reflecting on his tenure, York said, “Serving as Dean of the School of Theology has been a singular honor and one of the greatest privileges of my life. Dr. Mohler, my colleagues, and our students have trusted me and encouraged me throughout my tenure, daily giving me a deep satisfaction in the Lord’s calling and enabling. Knowing that Dr. Andrew Walker will succeed me as the Dean of the School of Theology only increases my joy because I have known him closely as a student, fellow faculty member, and friend who is godly, faithful, and brilliant. His influence as a public thinker and ethicist will only compound as he continues to write while leading the greatest theological faculty in the evangelical world. I look forward to continuing to teach on this faculty and being as encouraging to him as he has been to me.”
Walker, who will become the 12th Dean of the School of Theology, currently serves as Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology, Associate Dean in the School of Theology, and Executive Director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement. He brings extensive academic, cultural, and institutional experience to the role. He is a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, founding Managing Editor of WORLD Opinions, and co-host of The Bully Pulpit podcast. His scholarship explores Christian ethics, public theology, natural law, and religious liberty, and his writings have appeared in National Review, First Things, Public Discourse, and other outlets.
Provost Paul Akin praised both men, describing the transition as a moment of gratitude and confidence in the seminary’s future. “I am deeply grateful for the wise and faithful leadership of Dr. Hershael York,” Akin said. “As Dean, he has modeled what it means to be a true pastor-scholar—one whose heart beats for the local church and whose leadership has continually reminded us that all theological training ultimately serves the people of God. I am profoundly thankful that he will continue investing in the next generation of pastors who will preach, shepherd, and lead with conviction and grace. I am equally thrilled for Dr. Andrew Walker to step into the role of Dean-elect of the School of Theology. Dr. Walker’s deep love for Scripture, the local church, and the Great Commission uniquely positions him to build upon the foundation Dr. York has laid. His vision and energy will help cultivate a new generation of pastor-theologians who think deeply, live faithfully, and serve joyfully for the glory of Christ and the good of His church.”
Walker expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the seminary in this new capacity. “I’m both humbled and grateful to President Mohler and to our trustees for the trust they have placed in me to serve as the next Dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,” Walker said. “The School of Theology faculty shaped the theological convictions I hold to this day, and I’m eager to advance its work of forming pastors, scholars, and church leaders for the Southern Baptist Convention and beyond. I count it a privilege to serve the faculty who continue that work every day. Building on Dr. Hershael York’s faithful tenure as Dean, I will lead with three priorities: unwavering confessional fidelity to the Abstract of Principles and Baptist Faith and Message (2000) pursued with scholarly rigor, pastor-forming scholarship in the classroom, and tangible support for our faculty in their teaching and research. The School of Theology maintains a sterling reputation for the scholarly output of its faculty, and this legacy of excellence will continue. By God’s grace, we will guard the good deposit, serve the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, and send out graduates who preach Christ and love His people in order to advance the Great Commission given to us by our Lord Jesus.”
Walker holds the Ph.D., Th.M., and M.Div. in Christian Ethics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Religious Studies from Southwest Baptist University. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including God and the Transgender Debate, Liberty for All: Defending Everyone’s Religious Freedom in a Secular Age, and the forthcoming Prodigal Culture: A People in Ruins and the Way Back Home (Crossway, 2026). He and his wife, Christian, live in Louisville with their three daughters and are members of Highview Baptist Church.
Since its founding in 1859, Southern Seminary has been defined by its commitment to the truth of God’s Word and the preparation of ministers for the church. The Dean of the School of Theology has served as the steward of the seminary’s doctrinal integrity and academic vision. Figures such as James P. Boyce, John A. Broadus, A. T. Robertson, Gregory A. Wills, and Hershael W. York have each carried forward that responsibility in their generation. Come August, Andrew T. Walker will join this long line of pastor-theologians entrusted to anchor Southern Seminary in the truth and advance its mission to serve the church with theological faithfulness and excellence.