Rev. Dr. Candace Lewis the President-Dean of Gammon Theological Seminary. She is an ordained elder in the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. From 1997-2009, Dr. Lewis was appointed as the founding pastor of the New Life Community UMC in Jacksonville, Florida. She was then appointed as the Associate General Secretary in the New Church Starts Division and later as the Executive Director of Path1 New Church Starts at the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tennessee. In April oof 2021, Rev. Dr. Lewis came to Gammon after serving as a District Superintendent for 4 years in the Florida Conference. She is a graduate of the University of Florida and Gammon Theological Seminary – ITC where she received her Master of Divinity degree in May 1996. In June 2000, she graduated from the Harvard Divinity School’s Summer Leadership Institute on Faith-Based Community Economic Development. She earned a Doctorate in Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. May 2014.

With extensive experience in church planting, pastoring, and district leadership, Dr. Lewis offers Gammon students invaluable guidance and knowledge, particularly those pursuing ordination within the United Methodist Church. As a faculty member teaching Religious Heritage courses, including United Methodist Polity & History, she generously shares her expertise, enriching the academic and spiritual journey of Gammon students.