Cory Edwards - Early Life

Early Life

Edwards was born on August 21, 1968 in Anderson, Indiana to Dr. James L. Edwards and Deanna Monteith. His father, who grew up as the son of a minister in Kettering, Ohio, graduated from Anderson University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1965 and went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from Anderson School of Theology. His mother grew up in Springfield, Ohio, where she worked in a law office while attending classes part time at Wittenberg University. In 1961, she moved to Indiana and enrolled at Anderson University, where she received a degree in elementary education. She then earned a master's degree from Ball State University.

James L. Edwards and Deanna Monteith married in 1964 after their junior year of college. Edwards worked as Anderson University's Director of Student Recruitment from 1965 to 1970 and served as a pastor at a church in Indiana. He also pastored a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Cory's younger brother Todd was born in 1971. They returned to Anderson in 1972 and until 1975, Edwards directed church and alumni relations at the university. He then moved his family to Columbus, Ohio, where for the next fifteen years, he served as the head pastor of Meadow Park Church of God. During this time, he continued his education at Ohio State University and received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational policy and leadership in 1987. He also held the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer at Warner Press, the publishing house for the Church of God, before being elected as president of Anderson University in 1990.