The Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander will step down from his position as dean of the School of Theology effective Aug. 1, 2020.

Alexander, currently in his eighth year as dean, had this to say upon announcing his decision. “Being part of the University of the South has been one of the deep joys of my vocation, and I will always be grateful for the privilege of finding my place in Sewanee’s history.”

Alexander has, in fact, a long record of service to the University of the South. He has held previous positions off and on for nearly 40 years, most notably as chancellor and professor at the School of Theology.

Vice-Chancellor John M. McCardell accepted his decision to step down “with a mixture of regret, joy, and deep gratitude: regret because I shall miss our work together and his steadfast leadership of the School of Theology; joy because he will, after a year-long sabbatical, return to the faculty as the Charles T. Quintard Professor of Theology; and gratitude because I have truly valued his friendship, his support, and his wisdom.”