Convocation Fall 2023

Dr. George M. Hillman Jr. serves as the Vice President for Education and Professor of Educational Ministries and Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. He oversees all seminary activities related to academic affairs and student life. Before stepping into this role, Dr. Hillman served as Vice President for Student Life and Chair of the Educational Ministries and Leadership department at DTS. As department chair, he oversaw the MA in Christian Education degree and the creation of the MA in Christian Leadership degree. He is also the former Director of Internships at DTS, where he developed the seminary’s ministry residency program.

Dr. Hillman came to DTS in 2002 with years of pastoral experience in churches and parachurch organizations in Texas and Georgia. He is the author or co-author of six books and several journal articles on theological field education, church educational ministry, and pastoral leadership.

Dr. Hillman has a BS in Sociology from Texas A&M University, an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a passion for education, spiritual formation, and leadership development.

He is a rabid college football fan and loves good barbeque. He and his wife have one grown daughter pursuing a career in the arts.

Herman Baxter Sr., also known as “Bax,” is an ordained minister with a passion for “ministering to the minster.” Reared in Trenton, N.J., he is a retired Major, USAF, who completed 26 years of honorable military service as a Munitions and Missile Maintenance Officer. Herman received his ThM from DTS in 2017 and is a DTS DMin candidate. He has served in a variety of capacities at DTS over the last 8 years, most recently assuming the title Dean of Students. He is blessed to be married to Brandy, a USAF veteran, and Doctor of Strategic Leadership student at Regent University. They have two daughters, Joy and Faith. “Team Baxter” has a passion for serving Jesus, whom the Word testifies, is the Christ.

Dr. Thames has served in a variety of academic administrative roles since joining the seminary staff in 1984. He joined the faculty in 1989 when he became registrar. While in the registrar’s office, he was involved in establishing a professional association for registrars and admissions officers for theological schools. He returned to the academic dean’s office in 1997, where he continues to serve now as Academic Dean. His areas of special interest include teaching process, one of his favorite courses to teach, and administration and accreditation in Christian higher education. His years of experience in academic administration at DTS have given him a unique perspective and backdrop for his classes. In addition to his ministry at the seminary, Dr. Thames, an ordained minister, has been involved in overseas ministry and is active in his local church, including several years of service as a teacher and member of the board of elders. Both he and his wife, Laurie, grew up in Colorado and have a love for the outdoors. In fact, most of their vehicles are easily identified by the Colorado Native bumper sticker they sport. Dr. Thames and his wife have two married daughters and two delightful granddaughters.

Dr. Mark Yarbrough serves as the sixth President of Dallas Theological Seminary and is a professor of Bible Exposition. He has been in a variety of positions during his tenure at DTS: Research Assistant to the President, Executive Director of Information Technology, Associate Dean for External Education, Vice President for Communications, Academic Dean, and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

His love for the classroom draws him to the Bible Exposition department where he serves as Professor. Along with his responsibilities of leading DTS, he serves as an elder of Centerpoint Church in Mesquite and travels extensively leading tours and speaking at conference centers. Mark has recently authored Jonah: Beyond the Tale of a Whale and Tidings of Comfort and Joy. He has been married for thirty years to Jennifer, his high school sweetheart. They have four adult children, one son-in-law, and reside in Sunnyvale, Texas.