Dr. Carlo Serrano
PhD Adjunct Faculty
Education
- Ph.D. Organizational Leadership (Ecclesial), Regent University, Virgina Beach, VA. 2017, Dissertation: “An Examination of Leadership Fatigue and Trauma in Ethical and Moral Leadership Through A Socio-rhetorical Analysis of 2 Samuel 11:1-47”
- D.Min. Kairos University, Sioux Falls, SD. Expected completion 2027, Project: “Depth and Speed: Reimagining Applied Theological Education for a Highly Networked Church”
- M.A. Pastoral Counseling, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. 2013
- B.A. Psychology, American Military University, 2012
- President, Manna University, Fayetteville, NC. 2023-Present
- Dean of Graduate Studies, Program Director (Religious and Leadership Studies), Professor, Manna University, Fayetteville, NC. 2013-2023
- Teaching Pastor, Manna Church, Fayetteville, NC. 2023-Present
- Adjunct Professor, Wesley School of Leadership, Carolina University, Winston-Salem, NC. 2018-2022
- Adjunct Instructor, School of Business and Leadership, Regent University, Virgina Beach, VA. 2017-Present
- Adjunct Professor, SEU Network/Jannetides School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL. 2016-2017, 2021-2024
- Teaching Pastor, oneChurch.tv, Clarksville, TN. 2016-2023
- Lead Pastor, Grace Life Church, Clarksville, TN. 2010-2016
- Associate Pastor, First Assembly of God, Clarksville, TN. 2005-2010
- Board of Elders, Manna Church, Fayetteville, NC. 2025-Present
- Board of Directors, Association for Biblical Higher Education, Orlando, FL. 2023-Present
- Board of Governors, The King’s University, Edmonton, AB. 2021-2024
- Board of Directors, Uncharted International, Evansville, IN. 2021-Present
- Co-Editor, Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, Regent University, Viginia Beach, VA. 2019-2024
- Board of Directors, Manna Café Ministries, Clarksville, TN. 2012-2014, 2016-2022
- (2024). Women as central to the collective mission of God. In S. Ertel, D. Gomez, & K. Patterson (Eds), Women in leadership: Biblical and contemporary perspective. Palgrave MacMillan.
- (2024). Women and servant leadership: Truths and misconceptions about submission. S. Ertel, D. Gomez, & K. Patterson (Eds), Women in leadership: Biblical and contemporary perspective. Palgrave MacMillan.
- (2022). New Testament organizational spirituality: A meta-analysis. In J. Henson (Ed.), Biblical organizational spirituality: New Testament foundations for leaders and organizations. Palgrave MacMillan.
- (2022). Organizational spirituality as the rebuilding of society: An analysis of Acts 4. In J. Henson (Ed.), Biblical organizational spirituality: New Testament foundations for leaders and organizations. Palgrave MacMillan.
- (2021). Jesus and emotional awareness. In J. Henson (Ed.), Biblical organizational leadership: Principles from the life of Jesus in the gospel of John Palgrave MacMillan.
- (2020). Biblical principles for resilience in leadership: Theory and cases. Palgrave MacMillan.
- (2020). The organization as a mixed martial artist: A metaphor for environmental uncertainty. In R. Huizinga & D. Dean (Eds.), Organizational Metaphors. Palgrave MacMillan.
- (2018). It seemed good to the holy spirit and to us: A biblical example of the organizational decision-making process. Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, 12(1), 10-15.
- (2018). The value of wisdom. Theology of Leadership Journal, 1(2), 40-47.
- (2018). The temple, the body, and the people: Ancient metaphors for the modern church. Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, 8(1), 3-11.
- (2017) The spiritual formation of ecclesial leaders: Insights from a burgeoning field. Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, 7(1), 80-90.
- (2017). Leadership fatigue: What new leaders can learn from an old king. Westbow Press.
- (2016). Loyalty, discipline, and legacy: Exploring leadership emergence in a Brazilian jiu jitsu academy. International Journal of Martial Arts, 2(1), 1-11.
- (2014). Charismatic and servant leadership as seen in king Saul and young David: An inner texture analysis of 1 Samuel 17:1-58. Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership. 6(1), 27-40.
- (Forthcoming 2026, August). Reclaiming Greatness: From Ambition to Formation in Scriptural and Interreligious Traditions. Paper co-presented at the Oxford Symposium on Religious Study, Keble College, Oxford, UK
- (2025, November). Contending Without Drifting: Renewal Theology for a Networked Church. Paper presented at the Regent Renewal Conference, Regent University, Virgina Beach, VA, US.
- (2025, July). Saying No to Quick Fixes: Theological Depth in a Fast-Paced Church World. Paper presented at the Oxford Symposium on Religious Study, Harris Manchester College, Oxford, UK
- (2025, February). Building synergy between the faculty and the president. Workshop presented at the Faculty Forum, Association for Biblical Higher Education 2025 Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
- (2025, February). The president’s role in accreditation. Workshop presented at the Association for Biblical Higher Education 2025 Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
- (2019, October). Resolve, change, and greatness: How the values of the US president unify and divide. Paper presented at the International Leadership Association 2019 Global Conference, Ottawa, ON.
- (2015, March) Systematic and spirit-led: 21st century hermeneutics and spiritual formation. Paper presented at the 2015 Holy Spirit and Christian Formation Conference, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
- (2015, February). CEO no more: The future of church leadership. Paper presented at the Student Scholars Forum, Association for Biblical Higher Education Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
- (2014, December). Intoxicating leadership: Leading under the influence. Paper presented at the 2014 Virtual Conference on Moral Leadership, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
- (2014, May). The sovereignty of God and charismatic leadership: Insights for the JBPL. Paper presented at the 2014 Roundtables of Leadership Research and Practice, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
- (2014, May). An examination of the servant leadership assessment instrument and the servant leadership survey. Paper presented at the 2014 Roundtables of Leadership Research and Practice, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
About
Carlo is the President of Manna University, where he’s served for over 12 years in various administrative and academic roles. He also serves as a Teaching Pastor at Manna Church Fayetteville/Ft. Bragg. He has 20 years of combined experience in executive leadership as a pastor, nonprofit board member, and organizational consultant. He is a combat veteran and spent 5 years on active duty in the US Army before entering vocational ministry. Much of his work and research focuses on applied ecclesiology in global and US military contexts. He has a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, an MA in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University, a BA in Psychology from American Military University, and a Diploma in Ministerial Studies from Global University. Carlo and his wife Jaemi live in Fayetteville, NC and have two adult sons.
Phone: 910-221-2224