06/12/2025
Take a moment to read this heartfelt reflection: 'Dean Ian Markham’s Transformative Tenure at Virginia Theological Seminary' by The Very Rev. Billy J. Alford ’92. A moving tribute to a season of impactful leadership and faithful service.
It is a great privilege for me to write today’s commentary and share my thoughts with you about our friend, The Very Reverend Ian Markham, Ph.D., Dean and President of The Virginia Theological Seminary.
Dean Markham’s leadership of Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) from 2007 to 2028 will be remembered as one of the most consequential and visionary periods in the institution’s more than two-century history. As someone who has served as a trustee and developed a close working relationship with Dean Markham, I have witnessed firsthand the depth of his commitment, resilience, and capacity to guide VTS through both adversity and opportunity.
From the outset of his tenure, Dean Markham faced formidable challenges. He assumed leadership just as the 2008 financial crisis struck, necessitating difficult budget and staffing decisions. His steady hand and transparent communication helped the Seminary weather that storm, setting a tone of integrity and collaboration that would define his administration.
The devastating fire that destroyed the historic 1881 Chapel could have been a moment of despair. Instead, under Dean Markham’s leadership, it became a catalyst for renewal. He spearheaded the capital campaign that led to the construction of the new Immanuel Chapel, a project that not only restored a sacred space to the heart of the seminary’s life, but the new Chapel also symbolized VTS’s resilience and forward-looking spirit. Thus, making it “The Chapel for the Ages”.
Dean Markham’s vision extended beyond crisis management. He oversaw the displaying of the Assyrian reliefs, which are remarkable antiquities available for cutting-edge scholarship, and have advanced our understanding of, and how to care for, these remarkable treasures. They are the centerpiece of the renovated Bicentennial Chapel.
His commitment to justice and reconciliation was most powerfully demonstrated in the creation of a $1.7 million Reparations Fund, the first of its kind among seminaries, to address VTS’s historic complicity in slavery and segregation. This initiative has set a national standard for theological institutions seeking to reckon with their past and foster genuine inclusion.
Read more: https://vts.edu/deans-commentary/dean-ian-markhams-transformative-tenure-at-virginia-theological-seminary/
