Announcements
Jul 23, 2026
Marshall, TX – Wiley University is proud to announce the appointment of the Rev. Christopher Weems as its new Dean of the Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel. An ordained Elder in Full Connection with the United Methodist Church and a devoted servant leader, Weems steps into the role with deep roots in HBCU culture, a heart for student formation, and a vision to reconnect Wiley University with the Methodist heritage on which it was founded more than 150 years ago.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Weems is a proud graduate of Paine College, a historically Black college in Augusta, Georgia, and continued his postgraduate studies at Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta. He was president of the campus Wesley Fellowship and a student chaplain at Paine, where he discovered the leadership calling that would shape his ministry. "The leadership role that genuinely defined me was being the president of the Wesley Fellowship," he said, describing how the experience kept him engaged with his institution, the local church, and the surrounding community.
Weems credits much of his journey to his mentor, Rev. Dr. Luther B. Felder II, who served as his chaplain at Paine College, ushered him into United Methodism, and is himself a Wiley University alumnus. "It's strange how God has a way of cultivating leaders," Weems reflected on the path that led him to his mentor's alma mater.
Coming from a family with deep HBCU ties, Weems said Wiley University felt like home before he ever stepped on campus. "When I was notified that I potentially had the opportunity to better exercise my call in ministry here at Wiley University, I knew it was God's hand at work in my life," he said.
A Bold and Audacious Vision
Echoing President Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr.'s call for "bold and audacious" leadership, Weems hopes to reconnect Wiley University with its United Methodist roots while cultivating a space that welcomes all faith-based understanding. As an ordained United Methodist elder, he brings that mission full circle at an institution the Methodist Church founded. Beyond his role at Wiley University, he serves the local community as pastor of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Marshall, located just a block from campus.
Central to his vision is the launch of a Wesley Foundation at Wiley University, a United Methodist small-group ministry found on many Methodist-affiliated campuses. Modeled on the small-group societies where Methodism's founder, John Wesley, famously felt his heart "strangely warmed," the foundation would create opportunities for worship, community projects, mission work, and servant leadership. "Wiley University does not have this," Weems noted. "I would love to see what that would look like here."
Walking Alongside Students
In addition to leading the chapel, Weems will teach in the classroom, offering Survey of Religion and Philosophy as well as Critical Reading and Writing. Having navigated his own academic challenges as an undergraduate, he brings empathy and encouragement to his teaching. "I understand what it means to be a struggling undergraduate student, because I was one," he said.
Above all, he wants every student to know they are loved. "I want every student to know above all things that they are loved, not just by myself and every other faculty member here at Wiley, but always and forever will be first loved by God."
Committed to the connectional spirit of the United Methodist Church, Weems plans to open doors between Wiley University and churches across denominations, helping students, faculty, and staff explore their relationship with God in worship, service, and community. "It's not about me and what I want to do or see, but more so how I can be used as a catalyst to serve and help the students," he said.
A Message to the Wiley University Community
As he begins his tenure, Weems offers a message that captures the warmth he hopes to bring to campus: "I consider it an honor and a privilege to be serving as your new Dean of the Chapel here at Wiley University. I want you to always remember and never forget that I love you, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it."
For more information about Wiley University or inquiries regarding the Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel, please contact Catherine G. Sellers, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications, and Brand Management, at communications@wileyc.edu or visit www.wileyc.edu.
About Wiley University:
Wiley University, formerly known as Wiley College, is a premier liberal arts institution related to the United Methodist Church. The university is dedicated to fostering social good and developing leaders who make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
