Daniel Lowell "Danny" Akin (born January 2, 1957) is the sixth president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the College at Southeastern in Wake Forest, North Carolina, United States. A leader in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), he has authored and edited numerous books and journal articles and is best known for his commitment to expository preaching and to the Great Commission. Early life Akin was born and spent his early years in Forest Park, Georgia, outside of Atlanta. In high school, he was a multi-sport athlete in baseball, basketball and football, intending to try to pitch as a walk-on in college. After an injury, Akin abandoned those plans. On a mission trip to Sells, Arizona in 1977, Akin committed his life to full-time Christian ministry and decided to attend Criswell College in Dallas, Texas before attending seminary. Family Akin married Charlotte Bourne on May 27, 1978, and together they have four sons: Nathan, Jonathan, Paul, and Timothy. All four sons are involved in pastoral ministry, several having lived and served overseas. Akin has 14 grandchildren. Education Akin is a 1980 graduate of Criswell College with a B.A. in Biblical Studies and a 1983 graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1989. Career in theological education Akin's first teaching post was at Criswell College, where he taught New Testament, Theology, and Church History from 1988 to 1992. He also served as the Dean of Students during that time. In 1992, after Paige Patterson became president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, Akin joined the Southeastern faculty as Associate Professor of Theology and Dean of Students. He then transitioned to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. From 1996 to 2004 Akin served as theology professor, preaching professor, dean of the School of Theology, and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration. Akin then returned to Wake Forest as Southeastern Seminary's 6th president, a post he currently still holds. Presidency at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Akin's presidency of Southeastern Seminary and the College at Southeastern began in 2004. During his tenure, enrollment has grown from 2,407 to over 3,600 students. In addition, under Akin's leadership Southeastern has added multiple endowed professorship chairs. Akin has led Southeastern to establish the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and