Johnson University (formerly known as Johnson Bible College) is a private, Christian, co-educational college located six miles (10 km) southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee in the Kimberlin Heights community.
The Tennessee campus is the original campus for what has become the Johnson University System. The system includes a campus in Florida, Johnson University Florida and an online campus.
The Tennessee campus is located in the upper Tennessee River valley on the banks of the French Broad River just upstream from where the French Broad and Holston Rivers form the Tennessee. The Florida campus is located at the site of the former Florida Christian College, in Kissimmee, Florida.
The original name of the school was The School of the Evangelists'. The school was renamed Johnson Bible College in 1909 after Ashley Johnson agreed to have the school named after him. This name was used for 102 years until the college became Johnson University on July 1, 2011.
The idea for a new school was first introduced in a sermon by Ashley S. Johnson at the Bearden Christian Church in 1892 when Johnson proposed the idea of a college level school for the gospels. In May 1893, guests boarded a steamboat in Knoxville to go up to the college for the laying of the cornerstone of the Main Building. The Main Building, with "its five-story square tower that offered a sweeping view of the French Broad, was completed in 1895." The original Main Building served the school until Dec 1, 1904. A fire broke out from a chimney and completely destroyed the building. Following the fire a new building was constructed of brick and the dedication was held 1905.
Dr. Johnson served the school until his death in 1925. Upon his death, his wife Emma Johnson served as the college president until her death in 1927. Alva Ross Brown was chosen as the third president. He had not turned 22 years old at this point, making him the youngest person ever to serve as president of a U.S. college or university. He served the college and his determined leadership helped survive the great depression. He died in 1941 at the age of 35. His successor was Dr. Robert M. Bell. The college facilities were expanded slightly during his tenure. He served the college for 27 years and died in 1968. Dr. David L Eubanks became president in 1969 and served for 38 years. During this time, the college expanded and moved down the hill with new dorms, new classrooms, and new offerings. The college grew in number as well. Dr. Eubanks retired in 2007 and the current president Gary E. Weedman has continued to expand and improve the institution.
Johnson University has the distinction of being the second oldest continuing Bible college in the United States and the oldest Bible college affiliated with the Christian churches and churches of Christ.
Johnson Bible College first received regional accreditation in 1979 from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It also is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education. The teacher education program is accredited by the Tennessee State Board of Education and the Association of Christian Schools International.
Johnson University is accredited to offer associate, bachelors, master’s and doctor's degrees. All undergraduates at Johnson major in Bible. Students may also choose a program that has a double major.
Honors program There is also an honors program which offers majors in History, English, and Apologetics.
Graduate programs Johnson University offers master's degrees in education, New Testament and preaching, and marriage and family therapy/counseling. It also offers a Ph.D. in leadership studies.
Over the years Johnson University has had many different buildings that have served the college and some are still serving and others have been reused and adapted or demolished.
Aerial View of Johnson University.
Old Main & Irwin Library circa 1920.
Old Main Building & Irwin Library 1998
Old Main Building 2007
Alumni Memorial Chapel
P-W Building & Pond. Only natural pond on campus. Utilized by students in 1904 to save the other buildings from the fire in the Original Main Building.
Gally Commons under construction.
The college has only had six Presidents in its 116-year history. After the death of Ashley Johnson, Emma Johnson became president. Ms. Johnson was one of the first women to be elected and serve as president of any college in the United States. Dr. David L. Eubanks was the first President to retire from office but remains one of the longest serving college presidents in the US and now serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Johnson University Florida. All other past presidents of the College are buried in the College Cemetery across from the Old Main Building.
In 1896, during his tenure as the college's president, Ashley Johnson wrote the Condensed Biblical Encyclopedia.
|Ashley S. Johnson (Founder)||1893−1925|
|Emma Johnson (Founder)||1925−1927|
|Alva Ross Brown||1927−1941|
|Robert M. Bell, Ph.D.||1941−1968|
|David L. Eubanks, Ph.D.*||1969−2007|
|Gary E. Weedman, Ph.D.||2007−present|
* Retired from office/President Emeritus
Graduates of Johnson University include ministers, missionaries, educators, counselors, business leaders and owners, physicians, lawyers, broadcast and media journalists, developers and entrepreneurs, airline pilots, community leaders, legislators, and church leaders, etc. Individually notable alumni include: