Bio

GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

I learned welding skills in a high school vocational class, and following graduation, I received welding certification and began working as a maintenance welder at the Granite City Steel Company.

While leading the church for eleven years, I had the opportunity to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, from which I earned a Ph.D. in historical studies and philosophy in 1981.

While working to complete of the doctoral dissertation, I received an invitation from the president of Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, to join the faculty as an assistant professor. My family then moved to another new city. During the eleven year tenure at CBC, I oversaw the development of a Christian school teacher education program, supervised the student teachers, expanded the philosophy curriculum, and taught a wide range of historical studies. I earned the rank of full professor.

In 1989 I accepted the invitation to join the administration of Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Our three sons were now married or living independently, so Alice and I moved east. At VFCC, we build a computer lab and program, strengthened the education program, employed excellent faculty members, expanded library holdings, and improved the financial stability of the college.

From Pennsylvania, we moved to Kaneohe, Hawaii, to lead Bayview Chapel Church. The church congregation grew, enjoyed financial stability, increasing support for missionary work, and good public recognition. While serving as the church leader, I accepted an invitation from the academic dean of College of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, to join the faculty as a professor of philosophy, teaching one adjunct course per semester.

EMMANUEL COLLEGE
The academic dean of Emmanuel College invited me to join the college faculty as a professor of history, and we moved from Hawaii to Franklin Springs, Georgia. Alice became an administrative assistant in the School of Education while I taught European and American history courses. During the twenty-five year tenure at EC, I served as a classroom teacher, department chairman, and Dean of the School of Social Science. I had the privilege of teaching nearly 4,000 students, working with a committed faculty, and being led by a visionary administration.