Lee University’s Dr. Randy Sheeks recently earned a doctorate of musical arts in church music with a specialization in worship from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Sheeks’ dissertation was titled, “Skills Necessary for Evangelical Church Music Ministry: A Comparative Study of Perceptions by Selected University Programs and Church Leaders.”

“The data from this dissertation should help Lee and other universities with church music programs to continue providing excellent training for music ministry,” said Sheeks. “I really wanted to get feedback from pastors and music ministers in the field about the skills they believe to be necessary.”

Sheeks joined Lee’s faculty in 2010 as an assistant professor of music. Before coming to Lee, he spent 23 years in local church music ministry. Sheeks received the Distinguished Musicianship Award from the Church of God in 2004, recognizing his work at the Metropolitan Church of God in Birmingham, Alabama, where he served for 16 years and built a large and effective music program.

His passion for the local church continues as he instructs students at Lee in the church music curriculum. Sheeks is the coordinator of undergraduate studies in church music and worship at Lee. Lee offers a bachelor of music degree and a minor in church music.

Sheeks earned his Master’s of Music from Samford University and his Bachelor of Arts from Lee University.

He is married to Debbie, an adjunct voice instructor on the music faculty at Lee. They have two daughters, Elizabeth and Meredith.