Gerald J. Pillay
Encyclopedia
Professor Gerald John Pillay FRSA (born 21 December 1953) is the present Vice Chancellor of Liverpool Hope University
.
in South Africa
, Pillay was awarded a BA, a BD (with Distinction) and Doctor of Theology from the University of Durban-Westville
and a further DPhil in Philosophical Theology from Rhodes University
. On 1 September 2003, Pillay was appointed Rector & Chief Executive of Liverpool Hope University. In 2005, he was elected a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA). He lived in New Zealand
with his family for many years of his life before moving to the UK.
After lecturing at the University of Durban-Westville
, he became Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of South Africa
in 1988, a post he held for eight years. During this period, he was also Guest Professor at North Western University, Illinois; Research Fellow at Princeton University
; Guest Professor at Rhodes University and Visiting Professor at the Graduate School at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
(AMBS), Indiana, USA.
In 1997, he became Foundation Professor at the University of Otago
, New Zealand. In 1998, he became Executive Head of the School of Liberal Arts within that University.
Pillay has served on editorial boards of two international journals (Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae and Verbum et Ecclesia), has presented papers at numerous international conferences and has served on various public and educational bodies. He has been involved in recent research and lecturing in Cambridge, Oxford, Pretoria, California, Canada and Munich.
Liverpool Hope University
Liverpool Hope University is a university in Liverpool, England. Two of its three founding colleges were established in 1844 and 1856, the third opening in the 1960s. It is the only ecumenical university in Europe. Based on two campuses, the main campus is located in Childwall and the second...
.
Career
Born in NatalNatal Province
Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Province included the bantustan of KwaZulu...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Pillay was awarded a BA, a BD (with Distinction) and Doctor of Theology from the University of Durban-Westville
University of Durban-Westville
The University of Durban-Westville was formerly a university situated in Westville, Durban opened 1972. It now forms part of the campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Known as UDW, it was initially established for Indians as during apartheid there were few universities that admitted non-White...
and a further DPhil in Philosophical Theology from Rhodes University
Rhodes University
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, established in 1904. It is the province’s oldest university, and is one of the four universities in the province...
. On 1 September 2003, Pillay was appointed Rector & Chief Executive of Liverpool Hope University. In 2005, he was elected a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA). He lived in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with his family for many years of his life before moving to the UK.
After lecturing at the University of Durban-Westville
University of Durban-Westville
The University of Durban-Westville was formerly a university situated in Westville, Durban opened 1972. It now forms part of the campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Known as UDW, it was initially established for Indians as during apartheid there were few universities that admitted non-White...
, he became Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
in 1988, a post he held for eight years. During this period, he was also Guest Professor at North Western University, Illinois; Research Fellow 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....
; Guest Professor at Rhodes University and Visiting Professor at the Graduate School at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary is an accredited Christian seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, affiliated with Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA....
(AMBS), Indiana, USA.
In 1997, he became Foundation Professor at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, New Zealand. In 1998, he became Executive Head of the School of Liberal Arts within that University.
Pillay has served on editorial boards of two international journals (Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae and Verbum et Ecclesia), has presented papers at numerous international conferences and has served on various public and educational bodies. He has been involved in recent research and lecturing in Cambridge, Oxford, Pretoria, California, Canada and Munich.