The Charter board at charter institute at erskine
Our Charter school board of directors
Meet the individuals behind Charter Institute at Erskine’s vision and mission below
Dr. Steven Adamson
Chair
Dr. Steve Adamson is a seasoned corporate and academic executive with over 30 years of global experience.
Dr. Adamson was recently selected as the 18th President of Erskine College and Theological Seminary in Due West, South Carolina.
Prior to coming to Erskine, Dr. Adamson was Provost and Executive Vice President of Arizona Christian University, a position he held for five years. Dr. Adamson’s academic career includes previous posts as a seminary provost, executive director for an accrediting organization, distance education dean for Reformation Bible College, professor and online instructor. From 2008-2009, Dr. Adamson served as a supply minister for numerous congregations of the Free Church of Scotland in the Scottish Highlands.
Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Adamson had a 20-year career in defense contracting, international technology and management consulting and telecommunications. He held various management and director-level positions, with significant time spent working on assignments and living in Belgium, Canada, Germany, England, France and Italy.
Dr. Adamson holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Nebraska. He completed all but his doctoral dissertation in Operations Research from George Washington University. He has a Master of Divinity from Sangre de Cristo Seminary and a doctorate in Theology and Apologetics from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Dr. Adamson and his wife Von met at the University of Nebraska. They have been married for 35 years and together share a deep commitment to serving our Lord and Savior.
Dr. Tony Foster
Vice Chair
Dr. Tony A. Foster has been preaching and teaching the gospel for over 29 years, nationally and internationally.
Dr. Tony A. Foster is one of the founding Senior Pastors of Restoration Worship Center in Greenwood, SC, and President of Restoration Bible College. Dr. Foster has also authored four books.
Dr. Tony A. Foster received his Bachelor of Theology, Master of Theology, Master of Sacred Studies and Doctor of Sacred Studies from Christian Life School of Theology Global. He also received two Honorary Doctorates – Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Letters from the Christian Bible Institute & Seminary. In addition, he has worked as a Health Educator and Counselor with the University of South Carolina Social Work Department.
Lastly, Dr. Tony Foster was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to the South Carolina Juvenile Parole Board; Board Member of Charter Institute at Erskine, Palmetto Family Board and Chairman of CrossRoads Women’s Center Greenwood, SC.
Dr. Tony A. Foster is married to Pastor Joanie Foster, and they have two sons – James and Trey.
Helen Taylor
Treasurer
Helen Wilson Taylor is a native of Sumter, SC, who currently resides in Columbia. She grew up in the First Presbyterian Church and graduated from Wilson Hall, which was founded in part by her father. She then attended and graduated from The College of Charleston. She currently serves as an Elder of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church, a small family church in Sumter County.
She has been actively involved in Midlands Young Life, which includes the greater Columbia area. She served as a member of the Young Life Columbia Parent Committee for seven years while her daughters were in middle and high school. She also served for five years as the South Carolina Regent to Gunston Hall, which is the birthplace of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and model for the Bill of Rights.
Since 2006, Helen has volunteered to promote the Why America Is Free curriculum in South Carolina and many other states. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Values Through History, the curriculum’s non-profit parent company.
Helen has been married to Walter Taylor for 30 years and they have two daughters – Sallie Green of Houston, TX, and Lizzie Taylor of Charlotte, NC.
Dr. Gordon Query
Member
Gordon Query is an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, having served on or chaired numerous Session committees since 1981. He has completed two terms on the Erskine College Board of Trustees. He received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Erskine College in 2013. Dr. Query has previously served as the Moderator of the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and served on its Executive Committee. Gordon and Leona, his wife of 50 years, have a married son and enjoy spending time with their two grandchildren. He is a retired executive of The R.L. Bryan Company, having completed 30 years of service there.
Dr. Noel Brownlee
Member
Dr. Noel Brownlee serves as the Director of the David Livingstone Institute at Erskine College. He graduated with two Bachelor’s degrees from Wofford College before earning a Ph.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina and an M.D. from University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Brownlee is the current Director of Medical Student Education for Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, a Clinical Professor of Pathology at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, a pathologist at Upstate Pathology, where he also serves as Medical Director of the Cancer Center Laboratory, Medical Director of North Greenville University Physician Assistant Masters of Medical Science Program and an Affiliate Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is a current member of Greenville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and is on the Administrative Council for Christian Medical and Dental Association Upstate South Carolina. Dr. Brownlee is also on the Advisory Council for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and the C.S. Lewis Institute-Greenville.
Hon. Todd Carnes
Member
Todd moved to Lexington, South Carolina, in October 2000, after several years of service as a Christian missionary in Ufa, Russia. Prior to that adventure, Todd earned his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama and worked in roadway and community development in Jacksonville, Florida. He subsequently received his Master’s Degree in Biblical Languages from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. In the Lexington community, Todd has served as an entrepreneur in various realms. He spent eight years as Lead Pastor of Radius Church, five years serving as General Manager for SouthernMED Pediatrics and is currently building a local real estate brokerage as a co-founder, Todd Realty Partners. In addition to the above, Todd is now serving in his 8th year as an elected Town Councilman for the Town of Lexington.
Todd has been married to his wife, Kerri, for 27 years. Before joining Todd at Todd Realty Partners, Kerri served as a teacher and volleyball coach at both Lexington High School and Ben Lippen School. Todd and Kerri have three daughters – Laina, Amanda and Kristy.
Hon. Stu Rodman
Member
Stu Rodman serves as the Chairman of the Beaufort County Council, representing Hilton Head Island. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University. He served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army and is an elder in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Rodman and Nina – his wife of 44 years – have two married children and reside in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island. Mr. Rodman holds leadership positions on the boards of several national Christian ministries. Mr. Rodman has also held manufacturing, finance and general management positions with several major corporations. He has also served as a Commissioner on the Governor’s Commission on Management, Accountability and Performance, a member of the Task Force on School Funding for the State Superintendent of Education and a member of the Beaufort County Board of Education.
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