Announcing Danny Akin's Retirement
Institutional Statement
President Danny Akin Announces His Retirement
On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Daniel L. Akin, president of Southeastern Seminary and Judson College, announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. His official retirement date is July 31, 2026.
Akin, Southeastern’s longest serving president, made the heartfelt announcement in chapel during the Board of Trustees’ annual fall visit. Reflecting on more than 21 years as president, Akin acknowledged his gratitude to the Lord and to the Southeastern family while also expressing confidence in the direction and leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) East Coast seminary.
In an earlier interview, Akin similarly noted, “The past two decades have truly been blessed years by our Lord for Southeastern Seminary and Judson College. For Charlotte and me these have been years of joy and thanksgiving. We have loved every minute of our time here. We have seen God grow our student body, strengthen our faculty, expand our giving base, and deepen our vision and commitment to theological fidelity and Great Commission passion.”
For Akin, this announcement comes at the right time for his family and for the seminary to which he has devoted much of his life: “Charlotte and I have prayed this matter through and talked with family and friends. We are convinced the time is right for us and the school. We are at perfect peace in our decision. The college and seminary are healthy and thriving, and I believe the best days are ahead for this Great Commission juggernaut!”
At the time of his retirement, Akin will have faithfully served Southeastern for 22 years, leading the institution to not only years of record enrollment and charitable giving but also a reputation as the Great Commission seminary of the SBC. As president, Akin has championed Jesus’s final marching orders and helped to cement Southeastern’s Great Commission approach to theological education.
He has done so by challenging students to ask the question, “Not, why should I go? But why should I stay?” and by solidifying the institution’s confessional foundation around four essential statements, contending that biblical doctrine fuels missions.
For Provost Scott Pace, these core commitments and missional fervor are what define Akin’s impact on Southeastern Seminary and the SBC and are what will ensure the seminary’s bright future:
“I’m excited about the future of Southeastern because Dr. Akin’s legacy and leadership has not been built on his personality or accomplishments. He has cultivated an environment based on the timeless truths of Scripture and God’s ultimate mission to make disciples of all nations. These are enduring pillars that provide a stable foundation for the future and will allow us to continue to grow as we remain faithful to God’s word, the local church, and the Great Commission.”
For Executive Vice President Ryan Hutchinson, Akin’s legacy and impact are illustrated well by the mission statement Akin simplified a few years into his presidency: Southeastern Seminary exists to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.
“I am first and foremost thankful for Dr. Akin’s leadership for the clarity of vision he established,” commented Hutchinson. “Early in his leadership our mission statement was simplified. This not only provided a more accessible mission statement but also provided the foundation on which the concept of a Great Commission seminary has been built. Since that time, Dr. Akin’s leadership has challenged us to stay focused on that goal and to keep growing towards its fulfillment.”
Now 75 years since its charter in 1950, Southeastern Seminary is well-established as a thriving institution dedicated to equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. Southeastern’s vitality today is owing in part to the faithful leadership of its sixth president, Danny Akin.
“Dr. Akin’s legacy at Southeastern is one of gospel faithfulness and Great Commission passion,” shared Carlos Goodrich, chairman of the board of trustees, “and he has earned his reputation as a champion for biblical exposition and expository preaching. He and his wonderful wife, Charlotte, have left an indelible mark on Southeastern and on the mission field worldwide. As we step into this season of transition, I am confident that God will raise up the right leader for the next chapter. The future is bright for Southeastern, and our mission remains as urgent as ever.”
Following his retirement, Akin will carry the title of President Emeritus, and he will serve as Southeastern Ambassador for up to five years. In the meantime, he intends to continue serving Southeastern as senior professor of preaching and theology, teaching in a part-time capacity.
In the coming weeks, the presidential search committee will begin prayerful deliberations to identify the seminary’s seventh president. Any questions or comments regarding the search process can be directed to [email protected].
Commenting on the upcoming search process, Chairman Goodrich expressed his confidence that God will providentially direct the board to the ideal person who will lead Southeastern into the next chapter: “My hope for the presidential search is that the Lord will direct every step with wisdom, discernment, and unity. The Trustees enter this process prayerfully and with deep trust in God’s providence, assured that the same Lord who has blessed and advanced Southeastern will continue to guide us into this new chapter. Southern Baptists can trust that he will raise up the right leader to carry forward Southeastern’s Great Commission mission.”
The presidential search committee is comprised of Executive Committee members from Southeastern’s Board of Trustees. Committee members include Carlos Goodrich, Andy Taylor, Tim Dale, David White, Ed Litton, Kyler Smith, Raymond Brown, Stewart Holloway, Ryan Martin, Shawn Dobbins, and Brett Golson.
Twenty-One Years of Great Commission Leadership
Remarks on President Danny Akin’s Retirement Announcement
Danny Akin
President | Senior Professor of Preaching and Theology | Ed Young, Sr. Chair of Preaching
“Words are not adequate for me to tell Southern Baptists how much I love and appreciate their love, prayers, trust, and support. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve such wonderful people and churches. It is amazing to reflect on all that God has done as we partner together to reach North America and the nations. There is still work to be done. If we keep our hearts near to Jesus, stand on his inerrant word, and obey his Great Commission, I believe God will continue to work in us and through us for his great glory until Jesus returns. That is certainly my hope and prayer for the people called Southern Baptists.”
Carlos Goodrich
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
“I am profoundly grateful for Dr. Akin’s faithful, visionary leadership over the past twenty-plus years. Under his guidance, Southeastern has flourished as a Great Commission seminary, training thousands of students to serve Christ and his Church with conviction, courage, and compassion and to carry the gospel of Christ to the nations.
I am excited about the strong foundation the Lord has built at Southeastern under Dr. Akin’s leadership and the opportunities that lie ahead. This transition is not just an ending, but the beginning of a new chapter where Southeastern can continue to fulfill its mission to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.”
Ryan Hutchinson
Executive Vice President for Operations
“Because of Dr. Akin’s leadership, Southeastern is poised to head into the transition with strength of mission, strength in student growth, and strength in finances. This will provide a solid foundation for the next president to build upon.”
Scott Pace
Provost | Dean of Graduate Studies | Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry | Jim Shaddix Chair of Expository Preaching
“Dr. Akin’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping our institution. While this is typically described in terms of his passion for the Great Commission, it also includes how he operates with integrity, humility, and genuine compassion for others. His steady faithfulness and commitment to honor Christ in all things encourages these same values in our students and staff. There’s not an aspect of our institution that isn’t a reflection of his kindness and sincerity.
Dr. Akin’s commitment to hiring professors who embody our core values, share our doctrinal convictions, and embrace our mission has helped build a world-class faculty at Southeastern. Not only does this provide our students with the opportunity to be trained by renowned scholars, but also it offers them the opportunity to be equipped for their calling by practitioners who love the local church and are committed to its mission. The faculty he has assembled attracts students who value academic excellence and are eager to learn from a faculty who desire to invest their expertise and practical experience into the next generation of ministry leaders.”
Jonathan Six
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
“Over the past twenty years, I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the Southeastern community. I’ve watched Dr. Akin as a student in his classroom, as a part of his staff, and now as a fellow administrator. Some leaders are easier to follow from a distance than up close, but not Dr. Akin. He is authentically Danny both from afar and near. He has led with integrity, conviction, and a bold passion to see the nations reached for King Jesus. Because of his stellar leadership, Southeastern finds herself in an incredible place of financial health, doctrinal fidelity, and missional zeal. So, we celebrate his retirement, and we look forward to the days ahead thanks to his excellent leadership.”