SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Team on Wednesday, with two representatives each from all 10 member schools being recognized by the league. Samford's representatives on the team are Dr. Mark Gignilliat, professor of divinity at the Beeson Divinity School, and Ginger Robertson, administrative assistant in the Department of Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Management and Executive Education in the Brock School of Business.

While the selections were left up to each institution's discretion, the recipients all shared the common characteristics of demonstrated service to the institution and contributions to campus life and the local community. Faculty members selected have demonstrated strong contributions to teaching, research and/or service, while staff members are being recognized for bringing out the best in others and creating conditions for success.

Each member of the All-SoCon Faculty and Staff Team will be presented a plaque and honored at a home basketball game at his or her institution. Samford's representatives will be presented their plaques at the Bulldogs' home game vs. The Citadel on Jan. 17. 

Dr. Mark S. Gignilliat, Samford
Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Samford University's Beeson Divinity School, where he has taught courses in Hebrew, Old Testament and biblical theology since 2005. Prior to his appointment at Beeson, Gignilliat served as a lecturer at Wycliffe Hall at the University of Oxford. He has authored three theological books since 2007 and has two more forthcoming in 2019: Reading Scripture Canonically: Theological Instincts for Old Testament Interpretation and Micah: An International Theological Commentary. Gignilliat also has published a number of scholarly articles and essays and has contributed chapters to more than 10 books. In addition to his role at Beeson, Gignilliat serves as the Canon Theologian at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where he regularly preaches and teaches. He also is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Evangelical Theological Society, Tyndale Fellowship, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the Karl Barth Society. Gignilliat holds a doctorate from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary and a bachelor's degree from Bob Jones University.
 
Ginger Robertson, Samford
An administrative assistant in the Department of Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Management and Executive Education in the Brock School of Business, Ginger Robertson joined the Samford University staff in April 2005. She served as a temporary secretary for Charles DeBow in Cumberland School of Law before transferring to Brock School of Business in 2006 as administrative assistant for the Department of Entrepreneurship, Management and Marketing and the Executive Education program. Prior to coming to Samford, Robertson worked for nearly 10 years at Media Services, a subsidiary of Southern Progress Corporation, as a customer service representative in both the magazine and book divisions. Robertson also served as a secretary in Southern Research Institute's maintenance department for more than 10 years. Robertson majored in accounting while attending Bessemer State Technical College.