NBTS Trustees Approve Tenure for Dr. Patrick Milas and Promotion of Rev. Dr. Raynard Smith
May 19, 2026
New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS) celebrates two faculty milestones following unanimous action by the Board of Trustees during its Spring 2026 meeting.
The Board voted to grant tenure to Patrick Milas, MLIS, PhD, for the faculty portion of his appointment. In conjunction with receiving tenure, Dr. Milas was also promoted to Associate Professor of Theological Bibliography & Research. The Board also voted to promote Rev. Raynard D. Smith, Ph.D., to the rank of Full Professor. These recognitions reflect years of leadership, scholarship, teaching, and service to the seminary, the church, and the broader community.
“These recognitions celebrate two gifted servant-leaders whose work has blessed NBTS in powerful ways,” said Dr. Micah L. McCreary, President of New Brunswick Theological Seminary. “Through their scholarship, mentorship, and faithful commitment to students, Dr. Milas and Dr. Smith have helped shape not just this institution, but the people called to lead beyond it.”
Dr. Milas has played a vital role in the academic life of NBTS through his teaching, advising, and leadership as Director of the Gardner A. Sage Library, particularly in our Doctor of Ministry Program. Students and alumni consistently praise him for his mentorship, responsiveness, and steady guidance. External reviewers also highlighted his scholarship, leadership, and contributions to theological librarianship.
As library director, Dr. Milas led major improvements in digital access, archival development, and research support. He also played a key role in helping the seminary transition to online learning during the pandemic.
Rev. Dr. Smith’s promotion to Full Professor recognizes a distinguished career marked by academic excellence, institutional leadership, and deep impact on students and communities. Faculty colleagues praised his leadership in developing and strengthening NBTS’s Master’s in Pastoral Care and Counseling and Doctor of Ministry concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Dr. Smith was also recognized for helping formalize the seminary’s partnership with Blanton-Peale, expanding opportunities for professional formation and strengthening curricular depth within the programs.
External reviewers commended Dr. Smith’s national reputation in pastoral theology and psychology, especially his scholarship centered on the lived experiences and religious traditions of Black and Black American communities. Students and alumni described him as a transformative teacher and mentor whose ability to connect theory and practice shaped their personal, ministerial, and professional growth.
“Dr. Milas and Dr. Smith have each left a lasting mark on this seminary through their scholarship and care for students,” said Dr. Charles Rix, Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Biblical Studies. “These recognitions reflect not only the strength of their work, but the deep respect they have earned from colleagues, students, and the wider academic community.”
The NBTS community joins in celebrating Dr. Milas and Dr. Smith for these well-deserved honors and for their lasting contributions to the mission of New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
For more information about faculty scholarship at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, visit nbts.edu.