Dr. Charles W. Pollard began his tenure at John Brown University on July 1, 2004. Dr. Pollard is responsible to preserve and advance the mission of the university through spiritual, academic, and fiscal leadership. His diverse background promises to be a great benefit to the development of JBU.

He received his undergraduate degree with summa cum laude honors from Wheaton College (Ill.) in 1985, a juris doctorate with magna cum laude honors from Harvard Law School in 1988, a master of philosophy in English from Oxford University 1990, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia in 1999.

Dr. Pollard came to JBU from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he was a tenured faculty member teaching 20th-century literature. Dr. Pollard has been published frequently, including a forthcoming book from University of Virginia Press.

In addition to his teaching and scholarship, he has also practiced law. Dr. Pollard served as a corporate and tax associate for the international law firm of Latham & Watkins in Chicago, Illinois where he worked with major corporate clients.

Dr. Pollard has had extensive experience with non-profit boards, including the Wheaton College Alumni Association, ServiceMaster Foundation, Lake Geneva Youth Camp Foundation, and Ada Christian School. As president of the Ada Christian School Board, he led a $12.5 million capital expansion project.

He and his wife, Carey, have four children, Chad, 17, Benjamin, 14, Emma, 11, and James, 7.