"We're part of the Mountain, and the Mountain is part of us."
When the Rev. Dr. Andy Anderson, T’94, T’06, P’07, P’16, was pursuing an M.Div. degree at the School of Theology, he had a frequent evening ritual—after classes, he’d have dinner with his family and join his wife, Tippy, in putting their two children to bed. Then, he’d return to Hamilton Hall and meet up with fellow seminarians in a study room, which was located down a narrow hallway in a converted army barracks. “I’d be there until 2 or 3 in the morning, studying, praying, eating M&Ms, and smoking cigarettes,” Anderson says.
Bad habits are no longer in the picture, but Anderson’s devotion to the seminary—and to the Sewanee community as a whole—remains strong. Earlier this year, Andy and Tippy made a meaningful gift to the University, which includes, among other designations, a contribution toward the School of Theology’s study carrel campaign. Through this initiative, any person or group who provides a gift of $6,000 to the seminary may dedicate a Hamilton Hall carrel with a bronze plaque, similar to the chair plaques in All Saints’ Chapel. “Part of my knowledge of God is that God is so generous,” Andy says. “I love giving to God’s work because I know it’s changing the world.”
As Sewanee connections go, the Andersons’ ties to the Domain are unusually extensive—not only does Andy hold M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from the seminary, but the Andersons’ son, Case, C’07, L’16, is a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Letters. From 1991 to 1994, Tippy worked in University Relations supporting the Sewanee Fund and coordinating special events. To top it off, the Andersons purchased a home in Sewanee in 2008 and made Sewanee their permanent residence in 2023. In summary, “we’re part of the Mountain, and the Mountain is part of us,” Andy says.
Andy counts his seminary classmates as key shapers of his ministry. “The whole class was supportive of each other,” he says. “Not that we were without challenges and agreed on everything, but we studied together and prayed together. It was just a very loving community overall.” He also credits a broad spectrum of Sewanee administrators, faculty and staff. Among them are the late Tom Watson, H’94, who served as vice president of University Relations from 1981 to 1994 and helped inspire Anderson’s success overseeing major capital campaigns for Grace Church in Anderson, South Carolina, and Church of the Nativity in Huntsville, Alabama. Additionally, a close friendship with Bob Ayres, C’49, H’74, the 13th vice-chancellor of the University, led Anderson to serve as executive director of St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development from 2017 to 2019. Afterwards, Andy returned to parish ministry serving as interim rector of several churches through the end of 2025.
Anderson calls the seminary’s study carrel gift opportunity “timely,” in light of the School of Theology’s continued work to cover Hamilton Hall upgrades. “I think it’s a great way for those of us who benefited tremendously from our halcyon days of formation at the School of Theology to support others’ formation,” he says. “And I think it’s a great campaign. So, I hope others will be inspired to give.”
