Biography
Lawrence Thomas Geraty was appointed to the California Postsecondary Education Commission by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 16, 2007 to represent the independent California colleges and universities. His term expires on December 31, 2010.
Mr. Geraty recently retired as President of La Sierra University in Riverside. Since his appointment as President Emeritus, he continues to assist La Sierra University's new president and remains active in the community. Mr. Geraty's most impressive accomplishments has been his ability to remain active as an archaeologist and churchman while serving as President of La Sierra University.
He grew up as a citizen of the world as he was part of a Seventh-day Adventist missionary family who lived and worked in China, Burma, Hong Kong, and Lebanon. He received a rich educational experience by attending schools in China, Hong Kong, Lebanon, England, Germany, France, Israel, California, Maryland, Michigan, and Massachusetts. These experiences set him on a lifelong course committed to the values of diversity. He has lectured all over the world and contributed to numerous publications (edited 8 books, contributed to 30, authored some 50 articles in scholarly journals and hundreds in popular publications).
Mr. Geraty and his wife, Gillian, have a daughter in Colorado, a son in Michigan, and between them five grandchildren.
Education
- Ph.D. - Hebrew Bible and Biblical Archaeology, Harvard University
- Theological Seminary, Andrews University
- Undergraduate Degree - Pacific Union College
Awards And Honors
- Represented, U.S. Office of Education, delegation of administrators studying the education of minorities in China (2004)
- Charles Elliott Weniger Award for Excellence, Pacific Union College (2001)
- P.E. MacAllister Award for Excellence in Field Archaeology, American Schools of Oriental Research (2000)
- Fullbright Fellowship and serving as advisor on archaeology to former Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan
Activities
- Board Member, Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce (Chair, 2006-2007)
- President, and Professor of Archaeology and History of Antiquity, La Sierra University, Riverside (1993-2007)
- President, American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR), premier organization for American archaeologists working in the Middle East (2002-2006)
- Board Member, United Way of the Inland Valleys (2000 Campaign Co-chair, and Board Chair, 2003-2004)
- President, Scholarly Societies; Vice President, American Center of Oriental Research in Amman, Jordan (1982-2002)
- Board Member, The Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology, Metro Riverside International Cabinet, Mayor's Higher Education/Business Council, Raincross Club (President, 2001-2002)
- Board Member, Monday Morning Group, World Affairs Council of Inland Southern California (Chair, 2000-2002)
- President, Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts, where he earned the reputation as a progressive academic administrator (1985-1993)
- Board of Directors, Council of American Overseas Research Centers
- Board Member, Riverside Arts Council, and Congressman Ken Calvert's Science, and Technology Education Partnership Board.
- Supervised annual scholarly convention from headquarters at Boston and Emory Universities, the publication of several scholarly books and journals, the accreditation of American archaeological projects in the Middle East and related to research centers in Jerusalem, Amman, and Nicosia
- Curator, Horn Archaeological Museum and Founding Director, the Institute of Archaeology at Andrews University
- Professor of Archaeology and History of Antiquity, Andrews Theological Seminary, distinguishing himself as a teacher and scholar for the next thirteen years, teaching also in Jamaica, Jordan, Trinidad, Costa Rica, Europe, and Australia, and directing a series of major archaeological expeditions to the Middle East, including the Madaba Plains Project in Jordan