Edward L. Wheeler, Ph.D.
Dr. Edward L. Wheeler is a distinguished theologian, educator, and leader whose life and ministry have been shaped by a deep commitment to faith, education, and global understanding. A proud Morehouse College alumnus and 1967–68 Merrill Scholar with IES Abroad in Vienna, Dr. Wheeler credits the scholarship—and his year abroad—with confirming his calling and expanding his worldview. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Historical Theology and held influential roles as a pastor, seminary dean, and eventually president of both Christian Theological Seminary and the Interdenominational Theological Center. Known for his leadership in theological education and commitment to racial reconciliation, Dr. Wheeler continues to inspire students and communities through preaching, teaching, and mentorship. In 2022, he was featured in IES Abroad’s “Live from London” event, where he reflected on the life-changing impact of the Charles E. Merrill Jr. Scholarship and its role in opening global doors for students of color.
“I have lived long enough to reach the conclusion that I cannot dictate what my legacy will be. Others will determine that. What I am responsible for is doing the best I can with the opportunities I have been given. I am a very blessed individual. I have received more blessings than I ever imagined when I sat on the curb under the street light at the corner of my home in the working-class neighborhood of Atlanta where I lived from age 14 to my graduation from Morehouse and marriage to my wife at age 23. I have too many blessings to recount, but in addition to my parents, brother and my wife and children, two more stand out. Those two are my Morehouse experience and my year at IES Abroad Vienna. Both of them helped shape me for a future I did not know was coming. They helped me grow into a responsible, confident, courageous citizen of the United States and a man of the world.”Edward L. Wheeler, Ph.D.