D. Michael Lindsay
Encyclopedia
David Michael Lindsay, is a scholar in sociology
and the current president of Gordon College
, a private, liberal arts college
on Boston's
North Shore
. Prior to arriving at Gordon, Lindsay was on faculty for five years at Rice University
and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
. He is known as a scholar in the study of leadership
, elite
s, evangelicalism
, and higher education
.
, Mississippi
as an only child, and he graduated from Jackson Preparatory School in Jackson in 1990 as a National Merit Scholar
, where his mother, Susan Lindsay, is now the head of school. Along with his mother, Lindsay converted from Catholicism
to Southern Baptist
Evangelicalism
as a child. His father, Ken Lindsay, was the president of the PGA
from 1997 to 1998 and was one of the most respected rules officials in golf before his retirement in 2008.
in Wenham
, Massachusetts
.
as Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite. Faith in the Halls of Power met with mostly positive critical reviews. It was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
in the category of nonfiction, and it was also listed in Publisher Weekly's "Best Books of 2007." However, Alan Wolfe
of the New York Times criticized the work by saying that "too much of the book is uncritical." The Economist
, by contrast, called it "an impressive and admirably fair-minded book: anybody who wants to understand the nexus between God and power in modern America should start here." Christianity Today
gave it first place among the Christianity and Culture category in their annual book awards.
Following the publication of the book, Lindsay began research on senior leaders in general, launching the largest interview-based study of senior American leaders ever done. The PLATINUM study, an acronym for Public Leaders in America Today and the Inquiry into their Networks, Upbringings, and Motivations, aims to look at leaders in corporate, government, and non-profit life. He completed the research in the summer of 2011, having interviewed a total of 550 American leaders. His work has given him interviews with people such as Jimmy Carter
, Colin Powell
, Vernon Jordan, Robert Diamond
, and Condoleezza Rice
. Overall, Lindsay is the author of 24 scholarly papers, book chapters, and other peer-reviewed articles. His work has also been profiled in media outlets ranging from CNN
to The Wall Street Journal
. He also has written in popular media such as The Huffington Post
and the The Washington Post
.
, Phi Beta Kappa
, with a degree in English and Speech in 1994. In 2000, Lindsay graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary
with a Master of Divinity
. He then obtained a postgraduate diploma from Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University in 2001. Following his time in England
, Lindsay enrolled in a doctoral program at Princeton University
in sociology
, completing his dissertation in 2006.
Professionally, Lindsay worked as a consultant for religion and culture for the George H. Gallup International Institute from 1998 to 2003, and following his graduation from Princeton, was hired at Rice University
as an assistant professor of sociology in 2006. While at Rice, he became a Rice Scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. He held additional appointments with Leadership Rice and the Center on Race, Religion, and Urban Life. In 2010, he founded and directed the Program for the Study of Leadership, which sought to create leadership salons - dialogues with senior leaders such as Robert L. Clarke
, former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency
. Additionally, several undergraduate fellows were selected to participate in this program. Dr. Lindsay also completed his PLATINUM Study of leadership at the end of July 2011. The PLATINUM Study is the world's largest interview-based study of leadership and his subjects included top institutional leaders from the business, government, and non-profit sector. Some participants include: Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric
, Edward Whitacre, former CEO of AT&T
and former Chairman of General Motors
, Tom Daschle
, former Senate majority leaders, and Derek Bok, former president of Harvard.Upon his departure from Rice University, the program evolved into the Gateway Study of Leadership program.
On March 28, 2011, Michael Lindsay was announced as the eighth president of Gordon College
and began his tenure on July 1 later that year. When he assumed his position, President Lindsay was the youngest college president of any college or university nationally then ranked by U.S. News & World Report
.
, Myron Ullman, and Neil Clark Warren
. He stated his intention to use his inaugural year to raise awareness about Gordon College around the country. He was inaugurated on September 16, 2011, in a ceremony that featured Nathan Hatch, the president of Wake Forest University
. As part of the inaugural ceremonies, a worship service was performed with John Ortberg
as the speaker. In his inaugural address, titled "Faithful Leadership for the Common Good," Lindsay set out three principles which he titled "The Gordon Commission": to "stretch the minds" of students, to "deepen the faith", and to "elevate the contribution."
Gallup, George Jr., and D. Michael Lindsay. The Gallup Guide: Realty Check for 21st Century Churches (Gallup, 2002) ISBN 978-0-7644-2397-0
Lindsay, D. Michael. Faith in the Halls of Power (Oxford, 2007) ISBN 978-0-1953-2666-6
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and the current president of Gordon College
Gordon College (Massachusetts)
Gordon College is a liberal arts college located on the former Princemere estate in Wenham, Massachusetts, northeast of Beverly. Founded by Baptist minister A. J...
, a private, liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
on Boston's
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
North Shore
North Shore (Massachusetts)
The North Shore is a region in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, loosely defined as the coastal area between Boston and New Hampshire. The region is made up both of a rocky coastline, dotted with marshes and wetlands, as well as several beaches and natural harbors. The North Shore is an important...
. Prior to arriving at Gordon, Lindsay was on faculty for five years at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
James Baker Institute
The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, often shortened to Baker Institute, is a think tank on the campus of Rice University in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1993, it has become a notable center of public policy research. It is named for James Baker, former United States Secretary of State...
. He is known as a scholar in the study of leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
, elite
Elite
Elite refers to an exceptional or privileged group that wields considerable power within its sphere of influence...
s, evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, and higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
Early Life and Family
Michael Lindsay was born in JacksonJackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
as an only child, and he graduated from Jackson Preparatory School in Jackson in 1990 as a National Merit Scholar
National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a United States academic scholarship competition for recognition and college scholarships administered by National Merit Scholarship Corporation , a privately funded, not-for-profit organization. The program began in 1955...
, where his mother, Susan Lindsay, is now the head of school. Along with his mother, Lindsay converted from Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
to Southern Baptist
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
as a child. His father, Ken Lindsay, was the president of the PGA
Professional Golfers' Association of America
Founded in 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and is made up of more than 28,000 men and women golf professional members...
from 1997 to 1998 and was one of the most respected rules officials in golf before his retirement in 2008.
Personal life
Lindsay married his wife, Rebecca, in 1996, and is the father of three daughters. Elizabeth was born in 2004 and his twin daughters, Caroline and Emily, were born in 2010. He resides with his family in historic Wilson House on the campus of Gordon CollegeGordon College (Massachusetts)
Gordon College is a liberal arts college located on the former Princemere estate in Wenham, Massachusetts, northeast of Beverly. Founded by Baptist minister A. J...
in Wenham
Wenham, Massachusetts
Wenham is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,875 at the 2010 census.The Town of Wenham was originally settled in 1635 and has retained much of its unique historic character and tranquil rural scenery...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Research
Lindsay's first research projects focused on evangelicals in leadership positions in America, which formed the basis for his dissertation, Faith in the Corridors of Power. The dissertation drew upon over 350 interviews with evangelical leaders in business, government, cultural institutions, and religion. In 2007, the dissertation was published by Oxford University PressOxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
as Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite. Faith in the Halls of Power met with mostly positive critical reviews. It was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in the category of nonfiction, and it was also listed in Publisher Weekly's "Best Books of 2007." However, Alan Wolfe
Alan Wolfe
Alan Wolfe is a political scientist and a sociologist and is currently on the faculty of Boston College and serves as director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life...
of the New York Times criticized the work by saying that "too much of the book is uncritical." The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, by contrast, called it "an impressive and admirably fair-minded book: anybody who wants to understand the nexus between God and power in modern America should start here." Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
gave it first place among the Christianity and Culture category in their annual book awards.
Following the publication of the book, Lindsay began research on senior leaders in general, launching the largest interview-based study of senior American leaders ever done. The PLATINUM study, an acronym for Public Leaders in America Today and the Inquiry into their Networks, Upbringings, and Motivations, aims to look at leaders in corporate, government, and non-profit life. He completed the research in the summer of 2011, having interviewed a total of 550 American leaders. His work has given him interviews with people such as Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
, Vernon Jordan, Robert Diamond
Robert Diamond
Robert Edward "Bob" Diamond, Jr. is an American banker, currently Group Chief Executive of British bank, Barclays Plc. He is also Chief Executive of Corporate & Investment Banking and Wealth Management, comprising Barclays Capital, Barclays Corporate and Barclays Bank...
, and Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
. Overall, Lindsay is the author of 24 scholarly papers, book chapters, and other peer-reviewed articles. His work has also been profiled in media outlets ranging from CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
to The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
. He also has written in popular media such as The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
and the The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
.
Career
Lindsay graduated from Baylor University, Summa Cum LaudeLatin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
, Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
, with a degree in English and Speech in 1994. In 2000, Lindsay graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
with a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
. He then obtained a postgraduate diploma from Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University in 2001. Following his time in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Lindsay enrolled in a doctoral program at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, completing his dissertation in 2006.
Professionally, Lindsay worked as a consultant for religion and culture for the George H. Gallup International Institute from 1998 to 2003, and following his graduation from Princeton, was hired at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
as an assistant professor of sociology in 2006. While at Rice, he became a Rice Scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. He held additional appointments with Leadership Rice and the Center on Race, Religion, and Urban Life. In 2010, he founded and directed the Program for the Study of Leadership, which sought to create leadership salons - dialogues with senior leaders such as Robert L. Clarke
Robert L. Clarke
Robert L. Clarke was Comptroller of the Currency of the United States from 1985 to 1992.Robert L. Clarke, a Texas banking attorney, was named Comptroller by President Ronald Reagan...
, former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a US federal agency established by the National Currency Act of 1863 and serves to charter, regulate, and supervise all national banks and the federal branches and agencies of foreign banks in the United States...
. Additionally, several undergraduate fellows were selected to participate in this program. Dr. Lindsay also completed his PLATINUM Study of leadership at the end of July 2011. The PLATINUM Study is the world's largest interview-based study of leadership and his subjects included top institutional leaders from the business, government, and non-profit sector. Some participants include: Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, Edward Whitacre, former CEO of AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
and former Chairman of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, former Senate majority leaders, and Derek Bok, former president of Harvard.Upon his departure from Rice University, the program evolved into the Gateway Study of Leadership program.
On March 28, 2011, Michael Lindsay was announced as the eighth president of Gordon College
Gordon College (Massachusetts)
Gordon College is a liberal arts college located on the former Princemere estate in Wenham, Massachusetts, northeast of Beverly. Founded by Baptist minister A. J...
and began his tenure on July 1 later that year. When he assumed his position, President Lindsay was the youngest college president of any college or university nationally then ranked by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
.
Presidency of Gordon College
When he was announced as the president, Lindsay received support from numerous people, including Mark NollMark Noll
Mark A. Noll is a historian specializing in the history of Christianity in the United States. He holds the position of Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame...
, Myron Ullman, and Neil Clark Warren
Neil Clark Warren
In promoting his books he has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, Geraldo, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.-External links:*, eHarmony.com....
. He stated his intention to use his inaugural year to raise awareness about Gordon College around the country. He was inaugurated on September 16, 2011, in a ceremony that featured Nathan Hatch, the president of Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
. As part of the inaugural ceremonies, a worship service was performed with John Ortberg
John Ortberg
John Ortberg, Jr. is an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California, an evangelical church with more than 4,000 members...
as the speaker. In his inaugural address, titled "Faithful Leadership for the Common Good," Lindsay set out three principles which he titled "The Gordon Commission": to "stretch the minds" of students, to "deepen the faith", and to "elevate the contribution."
Honors and Awards
- National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow (2002–2006)
- First Place, Worldwide Competition for Young Sociologists (2006)
- Nicolas Salgo Distinguished Teaching Award, Rice University (2011)
Selected works
Gallup, George Jr., and D. Michael Lindsay. Surveying the Religious Landscape: Trends in U.S. Belief (Morehouse, 2000) ISBN 978-0-8192-1796-7Gallup, George Jr., and D. Michael Lindsay. The Gallup Guide: Realty Check for 21st Century Churches (Gallup, 2002) ISBN 978-0-7644-2397-0
Lindsay, D. Michael. Faith in the Halls of Power (Oxford, 2007) ISBN 978-0-1953-2666-6