CarterBaldwin Assists Montreat College with Provost Search
January 29, 2026 – CarterBaldwin Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of Justin Hardin as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of biblical studies at Montreat College. Partner Bill Peterson led the assignment. “I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Hardin to Montreat College,” said Paul J. Maurer, president. “He is a deeply respected scholar, a gifted administrator, and a strong leader whose wide range of experience will be a great addition to our academic community.”
Dr. Hardin’s work will build upon the excellent work and forward-moving progress of the college’s current provost, Mark Hijleh, who has announced his plans to retire at the end of the academic year.”
Dr. Hardin brings more than two decades of distinguished academic leadership, teaching, and administrative experience across Christian higher education to his new role, which will begin July 1, 2026. He currently serves at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AK, where he has held strategic roles since June 2022, including vice president for academic affairs, dean of the school of interdisciplinary studies, and professor of biblical studies.
Prior to Ouachita, Dr. Hardin spent eight years at Palm Beach Atlantic University serving as associate dean for graduate programs and professor of biblical and theological studies in the School of Ministry. From 2008 to 2014, he held the senior new testament teaching post at Wycliffe Hall of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, where he served as director of studies and tutor in new testament and was a member of the faculty of theology and religion.
Dr. Hardin also previously taught at Oklahoma Baptist University as the R. Strickland Assistant Professor in Bible and at the University of Cambridge, where he instructed students in new testament Greek during the final year of his doctoral research. Dr. Hardin holds a PhD and MPhil in theology from the University of Cambridge, a master of divinity from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, and a bachelor of arts in biblical studies and history from Ouachita Baptist University.
“Montreat College is a special place where academic rigor and Christian formation are equally important,” Dr. Hardin said. “As my wife, Jill, and I prayed and reflected on Montreat’s story and vision, we sensed the Lord nudging us toward this community. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I look forward to working alongside our faculty, staff, and students as we live out the college’s Christ-centered mission together.”
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Montreat College is a private, Christian. Liberal arts college founded in 1916 and offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs for traditional and adult students. Montreat College’s main campus for four-year traditional students is located in Montreat, NC, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside Asheville. The college’s School of Adult and Graduate Studies offers more than 25 online associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Proven Search Consultants
CarterBaldwin is a retained executive search firm that partners with its clients to build senior leadership teams. Since its inception in 2001 as a corporate firm, they have expanded its client portfolio to include the non-profit and academic sectors, serving both domestic and international clients from the firm’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA and our Washington, D.C. office. CarterBaldwin is listed among a variety of rankings published by Hunt Scanlon Media, including its Top 50, Private Equity Power 100, and Top 50 Higher Education Search Firms.
CarterBaldwin Recruits President for Augusta Tech College
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of Kendricks D. Hooker as the new president of Augusta Tech College. Partner Bill Peterson and associate partner Scott Tanksley led the assignment. “Dr. Hooker is an accomplished leader with a proven record of advancing student outcomes and building strong academic programs,” said Greg Dozier, commissioner of The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). “His deep commitment to education, workforce development, and community partnerships makes him the ideal person to lead Augusta Technical College into its next chapter.”
Dr. Hooker brings more than two decades of higher education leadership and teaching experience to Augusta Technical College. Since 2023, he has served as provost of Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in North Carolina, where he has led academic strategy and institutional initiatives to support student success.
Mr. Peterson, a graduate of Liberty University, co-leads CarterBaldwin’s non-profit and academic practice, recruiting senior leaders for state university systems, private education institutions, non-profit entities, healthcare organizations and related companies. With over 20 years of executive search experience, he has successfully led hundreds of searches for chief executive officers, presidents, provosts, vice presidents and deans for private and public institutions, as well as senior level executives for corporate clients.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
