As Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs of the W. P. Wiggins Bible College, Dr. Saunders provides leadership in operationalizing the mission of WPWBC and in maintaining a collegial environment conducive to learning and manifesting God's Word.
OFFICE OF THE
VICE PRESIDENT and PROVOST for ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Dr. Janice B. Saunders
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV
Dr. Janice B. Saunders was born in Chesapeake, Virginia although raised in Norfolk, Virginia. She is the product of Norfolk’s segregated public school system. Nevertheless, she was blessed with many highly educated, professional, dedicated, and encouraging black teachers and role models. Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Saunders enrolled in Norfolk State College and majored in Sociology with the goal of becoming a juvenile officer or owning a home for unwed mothers. But God had another plan! While in college she married Dr. Jasper Saunders and moved to Poughkeepsie, New York where he was employed with International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). Eventually, she returned to college and was convinced by her counselor to minor in education. Ironically, Dr. Saunders never wanted to be a teacher. Yet as previously stated God had another plan. It was the course in Psychology of Personal Development that allowed students to reflect on their personal social, mental, and spiritual development that her mission in the building of God’s kingdom began.
Dr. Saunders earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Education from the State University of New York at New Paltz, a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from O.M. Kelley Religious Bible Institute, Brooklyn, New York, a Master’s degree in Theology from Mid-Hudson Bible Institute, Poughkeepsie, New York, and a Doctoral degree in Theology from The Spirit of Truth Institute, Richmond, Virginia. She was a member of Beth-el Church of God In Christ for thirty-two years where she served with her husband as administrators and instructors at Mid-Hudson Bible Institute, Junior Church directors, and Youth Department facilitators and mentors.
Dr. Saunders is the Vice President, Writing Specialist, Curriculum Coordinator, and Instructor at W. P. Wiggins Bible College. In addition to those responsibilities, she enjoys working in the five-fold ministry as an evangelist while exercising her spiritual gift of teaching, encouragement, serving, and Words of Wisdom. Saunders retired after twenty-nine years as an elementary teacher in the Beacon City School District, Beacon, New York. She is delighted that she continues to hear from her elementary students and parents via Facebook. In addition, she taught night classes at the Mid-Hudson Bible Institute for twenty-five years. Teaching in Albany (81 miles from Poughkeepsie) on Monday nights and in Poughkeepsie on Friday nights.
Dr. Saunders has the honor of being Norfolk’s first black female letter carrier. Some fifty-plus years later she continues to work on the upbuilding of God’s magnificent kingdom. Her endeavor is not to do anything that the Gospel be blamed for but to do everything to the Glory and Honor of God! At the end of the day when it’s all said and done, “I don’t want my life to be about what I’ve done but about what God has accomplished through me!
Her mantra is:
“May the work I’ve done speak for me!”