Project Description

CarterBaldwin Executive Search is proud to partner again with King University in the announcement of W. Andrew Tooley, PhD as its twenty-fourth president. He will take the helm August 1, 2024.

“We were searching for the right individual who can navigate contemporary challenges in higher education while also championing King’s Christian heritage and rigorous academic programming,” said King University Trustee John Shoulders, chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “Dr. Tooley’s skill set and outlook align very closely with the character of the University, and we are confident that his experience will lead King to continued excellence in its 157th year and beyond.”

Tooley currently serves as Associate Vice President for Presidential Initiatives at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where he contributed to the development and implementation of one of the largest comprehensive fundraising campaigns in the university’s history and worked with the president and the board of trustees to guide Belmont on its Strategic Path to 2030 initiative.

Throughout his nearly 20-year career in higher education, Tooley has served as a faculty member and in executive leadership positions. He taught courses at his alma mater, the University of Stirling in Scotland, and at Wheaton College, where he served as a Professor in the School of Biblical and Theological Studies and Senior Director at the Marion E. Wade Center. While at Wheaton, he worked as Director of Principal Gifts, providing key guidance on strategic engagement for the president’s fundraising portfolio.

Tooley earned his PhD in history from the University of Stirling, an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and his BA in history from the University of Nebraska. He has completed post-doctoral fellowships at Southern Methodist University and Duke Divinity School.

Click here for the University’s full announcement.

About King University
Founded in 1867 in Bristol, TN, King University (originally King College) is a Presbyterian-affiliated Christian liberal arts college dedicated to the integration of rigorous academic programming and the exploration of faith. The value of the school’s educational environment has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, which has named King a Best Regional University in the South for nearly 30 consecutive years. King University is a member of the NCAA Division II and Conference Carolinas, offering 28 varsity teams in men’s and women’s sports.