Longtime Blackburn administrator, professor Gregory Meyer named president
A longtime former professor and administrator and current interim president at Blackburn College has been appointed as the Carlinville school's 19th president.
Gregory J. Meyer was named by the college's board of trustees to succeed Mark Biermann, who was named president in mid-2020 and resigned in late 2022 to focus on his health.
Meyer retired in 2014 but he returned in 2020 as interim provost and again in 2022 as interim president.
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During more than 30 years at Blackburn, Meyer held a variety of academic and administrative roles, including department and division chair, professor of philosophy and religion, dean of students, college counselor and director of church relations.
“Blackburn has played a profound role throughout my life and has become a significant part of my adult identity, professionally and personally,” Meyer said in a news release from the college. “I am humbled and honored by the privilege of accepting the Board of Trustees’ appointment to serve as the next President of this remarkable institution.”
Meyer earned his bachelor’s degree from Carroll College (now Carroll University) and holds a master’s of divinity and doctor of ministry from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. After seminary, he served as pastor of Presbyterian Churches in Wisconsin until his arrival at Blackburn in 1981.
Blackburn, which has an enrollment of 500 students, is one of 10 federally recognized work colleges, though it has the only program managed by a team of student leaders. The school was founded in 1837.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois has a new president
