Maryville College - Noble, Grand & True for Two Centuries

n the fall of 1801, a young Presbyterian minister-in-training settled in East Tennessee. The young state had more in common with a lawless frontier than the idealistic new Union it occupied, and few churches and schools could be found. Atop his horse with a communion set in his saddlebag, Rev. Isaac Anderson set in motion a mission to engage the souls and minds of thousands of people for generations to come. But he could not do it alone, and in 1819, Anderson founded Southern and Western Theological Seminary, the institution known since 1842 as Maryville College, for the purpose of educating and equipping every interested young man and woman for the service of God and all humankind. From a cabin of Anderson's own making to the banks of Pistol Creek to the top of College Hill, Maryville College has thrived for 200 years in the face of countless challenges, struggles, and evolving trends in higher education. Rev. Isaac Anderson's mission to provide an education for everyone has defined each era of the College's history as its leadership has worked to implement trailblazing attitudes on ethnic and gender equality, access to education, and liberal arts pedagogy. Maryville College celebrates graduating the first woman with a bachelors degree in the state of Tennessee, as well as one of the first African-American graduates. The College was also among the first in the country to have a written policy on racial equality and to reintegrate after the repeal of Jim Crow segregation. Spurred forward by a supportive faculty, Maryville College students are known for their passionate devotion to academics, athletics, fine arts, their community, and above all, to each other. Service and missions projects take students all over the world, as do the College's many celebrated performing arts ensembles. More than 380 "Scots" proudly compete on behalf of Maryville College, and draw top 10 home game attendance in four NCAA Division III sports.