Schmeltekopf Awarded Charles D. Johnson Outstanding Educator Award

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WACO, Texas (June 23, 2014) – Donald D. Schmeltekopf, Ph.D., Baylor University Provost Emeritus, has been awarded the Charles D. Johnson Outstanding Educator Award. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to Christian higher education through Baptist-related institutions.
The International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities (IABCU) gave Schmeltekopf the honor at its annual meeting at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, S.C. on June 2. The award, Schmeltekopf said, came as a surprise to him as the IABCU had not told him before the ceremony that he had won.
“The only other Baylor person to receive the award was Abner McCall, (former president of Baylor University),” Schmeltekopf said. “What can I say? That puts me in pretty good company.”
Mike Arrington, retiring executive director of the IABCU, praised Schmeltekopf for his long and faithful service to Baptist-related higher education and various other areas of the Baptist culture. Some of Schmeltekopf’s accomplishments include being co-editor of five books, training more than 250 administrators for their work at Baptist colleges and universities and being a former board member and board chair of the IABCU.
Schmeltekopf earned a bachelor of arts degree from Baylor in 1962, a master of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., and a doctor of philosophy degree from Drew University in Madison, N.J. He also has done postdoctoral study at Princeton University.
“There is no doubt that my connection with Baylor was a critical part of my being given leadership roles in the association,” Schmeltekopf said.
He continues to teach business ethics in the Hankamer School of Business, and is the director of The Center for Ministry Effectiveness and Educational Leadership in academic affairs.
Schmeltekopf and his wife, Judy, are members of DaySpring Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, where Schmeltekopf is the coordinator of an adult Sunday school class. They have four children and six grandchildren.
The Outstanding Educator award is named in honor of Charles D. Johnson, who authored Higher Education of Southern Baptists and who served as chairman of the Southern Baptist Education Commission from 1932 to 1953. Johnson’s career from 1916 to 1962 included positions as professor, department chairman, dean and president at Ouachita Baptist College (now University), Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College, Blue Mountain College and Baylor University.
by Rebecca Flannery, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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