Hannibal-LaGrange University President, Dr. Anthony Allen is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Robert J. Matz as Vice President of Academic Administration, Dean of the Faculty, and Professor of Theology and Preaching. He will start July 19.
Dr. Matz comes to HLGU from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he has served for the past 10 years both in administration and as a faculty member. At MBTS he led in the creation of an online undergraduate program, oversaw the online faculty, developed student success initiatives, worked with accreditors, created assessment processes, and taught residential and online courses in theology, preaching, evangelism, and apologetics.
“Dr. Matz will bring a wealth of administrative experience to his new role as VPAA,” said Dr. Allen. “He loves students, enjoys teaching, and will shepherd the faculty well. Dr. Matz understands the mission and vision of HLGU as well as the important task of integrating faith and learning. He is an outstanding addition to our executive staff.”
HLGU Trustee Member, Lisa Branch, affirms, “The selection of Robert Matz as HLGU’s next VPAA is very timely. He is the right choice for solidifying HLGU as a top choice for Christian families seeking higher education both in the on-campus and online arenas. The future of HLG is brighter than ever!”
Of coming to HLGU, Dr. Matz said “At a time when many institutions are doubting the value of confessional commitments, Missouri Baptists can take pride in HLGU as an institution committed to our convention and to producing graduates who excel academically, thrive professionally, and center their lives on Christ and service. HLGU’s commitment to a distinctively Christian education which integrates faith and learning across a wide variety of disciplines sets it apart from other institutions and positions it to become one of the foremost Christian universities in the region. I look forward to partnering with Dr. Allen and HLGU’s exceptional faculty and staff in the years ahead.”
Dr. Matz is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of engineering (2005). He earned a Master’s of Divinity with a concentration in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2009) and a Ph.D. in theology and apologetics from Liberty University (2015). His publications include Better Together: You, Your Church, and the Cooperative Program, Divine Impassability: Four Views of God’s Emotions and Suffering, as well as chapter contributions and articles for academic journals. Forthcoming books include Kerux Commentaries: Jonah, Micah, Nahum, and Habakkuk and Deep and Wide: The Role of Baptism in Child Discipleship. Dr. Matz is a member of and regular presenter at the Evangelical Theological Society. He was appointed to and served on the Southern Baptist Convention’s special task force on evangelism in 2017-2018.
Alongside his academic efforts, Dr. Matz is a committed Southern Baptist churchman. He has pastored churches in Texas, Virginia, and Missouri. Most recently, Dr. Matz has led in the revitalization of Blue Hills Baptist Church in Independence, MO, the oldest Baptist church in the Kansas City metro area.
Dr. Matz has been married to Jessica since 2006, and they have three children, Andrew (12), Katie (10), and Jonathan (7).