Rev. Dr. Robert N. Nash Jr.
Associate Dean for the D.Min. program
Arnall-Mann-Thomasson Professor of Missions and World Religions
Rev. Dr. Robert N. Nash Jr. serves as the associate dean for the Doctor of Ministry program and is the Arnall-Mann-Thomasson Professor of Missions and World Religions at McAfee School of Theology. He received his Ph.D. degree in Church History (1989) and his M.Div. degree (1985) from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, he completed both his M.A. (History) and B.A. degrees at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. Prior to coming to McAfee, Dr. Nash served as global missions coordinator at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (2006-2012) and as a professor in the religion departments at both Shorter College in Rome, Georgia (1994-2006) and at Judson College in Marion, Alabama (1992-1994). He also served as dean of the School of Religion and International Studies at Shorter College for several years.
An author of three books and numerous articles, Dr. Nash has devoted his research and writing to the intersection between religious faith and culture, paying particular attention to what happens to religions as they move from one cultural context to another. This research interest eventually led him to move from the classroom to the laboratory as he directed the global mission engagement of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, assisting that organization to adapt its global engagement to the unique challenges of the 21st century. He has now taken the experience he received there back to the classroom to assist ministers as they negotiate similar challenges in local congregations.
He has served as pastor and interim pastor of a number of congregations in Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia and as a frequent lecturer on college and university campuses and at conferences across the nation that focus on ministry and mission in the 21st century.
Dr. Nash is married to Guyeth Nash, a psychotherapist, and they have two grown children, Douglas and Lindsay. He is an avid viewer of food and travel programs on television and enjoys grilling and eating his way through every Asian restaurant in Atlanta. He runs about 12-15 miles a week to keep off the pounds generated by his food interests. The Nashes have a dog named Nemo and two cats, Mama Kitty and Agamemnon.
Education
- Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1989
- M.Div., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1985
- M.A., Georgia College & State University
- B.A., Georgia College and State University