Philander Smith Welcomes Dr. Phillip Pointer to College’s Faculty

Saint Mark Senior Pastor to Chair PSC Department of Philosophy and Religion

Philander Smith College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Phillip L. Pointer to the institution’s faculty in 2019-20 as Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion. 

Pointer is the Senior Pastor of the Saint Mark Baptist Church, one of the largest congregations in Little Rock, which he has led since 2012. Prior to relocating with his family to Arkansas, he was Senior Pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., which became Providence St. John Baptist Church once it merged with another church ministry. 

“As we embark upon a new academic term, we are elated about the addition of Dr. Phillip Pointer to our faculty. This dynamic theologian will help the College re-align with our bedrock mission of training highly qualified ministers and teachers,” stated PSC President Roderick L. Smothers, Sr.  “His keen intellect and philosophical and religious insight will empower us to mold the Department of Philosophy and Religion into a contemporary model in which to serve the diverse needs of today’s ministries.”  

 “I’m extremely excited to join the faculty at Philander Smith College,” said Dr. Pointer.  “This opportunity allows me to expand the scope of my work as Senior Pastor of Saint Mark and to help shape the lives and minds of young scholars. Saint Mark is excited to be a partner with this historic institution.”

Born in Port Arthur, Texas, and reared in Washington, D.C., Pointer holds a Master of Divinity from The Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.