Prior to his presidency at La Sierra University, Geraty was president of the now defunct Atlantic Union College. He has also served as president of the American Schools of Oriental Research organization. He also taught archaeology and religion at Andrews University.
Geraty was born to missionary parents in 1940. With his family he lived in China, Burma, Hong Kong, Lebanon, England, Germany, France and Israel.[2][3] His family also lived in the United States in California, Maryland, Michigan and Massachusetts.[2][3]
In 1971 he joined the Old Testament faculty at the University's Seminary, along with S. H. Horn, Gerhard Hasel, A. F. Johns, and Mrs. Leona G. Running. [citation needed]
In 1968 he joined Siegfried Horn and Roger Boraas at Tel Hisban. Geraty served the first three seasons there as a field supervisor. In 1974 he became director of the Hisban Expedition, which culminated with a final season in 1976. In 1982 Larry Herr, Øystein LaBianca, and Geraty began the Madaba Plains Project.[9] In 1986 he was instrumental in forming the Archeological Consortium of Adventist Colleges when he led a tour of students from the member schools to the Madaba Plains Project dig, including the 'Umayri site.[10]
From 1993 to 2007 Geraty served as President of La Sierra University.[13] His presidency commenced directly following La Sierra's reformation as an independent institution, after it split from Loma Linda University. His immediate role was to create an identity for the school.[13] Geraty is credited with leading the school as it retired its debt and opened a new $23 million science complex.[13]
He was noted for his leadership in supporting the ordination of women in the Seventh-day Adventist church, with a prominent advocate saying he was not "afraid to stand alone for truth" in that regard.[14] Responding to President Geraty's initiative La Sierra University's Board of Trustees voted in November 1996 to establish the first Women's Resource Center in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[15] Geraty serves on the Center's Board of Advisors to this day.[15] On June 7, 2007, Geraty was honored as the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce's Citizen of the Year at a celebration dinner.[2]
2001 – Awarded the P. E. MacAllister Field Award for his "outstanding career" as a builder of archaeologists and archaeological teams. It noted that he promoted cutting-edge research among his students and colleagues and his work as a statesman in representing the interests of American Schools for Oriental Research archaeologists to the broader public.[7][17]
2002–2005 – President of American Schools for Oriental Research (ASOR). Responsible for oversight of relationships with the institutes in Jerusalem, Amman, and Nicosia, as well as contacts with other professional organizations concerned with archaeology in the Middle East. The award cited his direction of a major archaeological expedition in Jordan, his presidency of a university, his accomplishments as a scholar and leader, and the respect of his colleagues for his non-controversial and diplomatic personality.[17]
2007 – Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year.[2]
Hesban After 25 Years. by Heshbon Expedition Symposium, et al. (April 1994)
Madaba Plains Project: The 1984 Season at Tell El-Umeiri and Vicinity and Subsequent Studies Madaba Plains Project Series ; 1) by Lawrence T. Geraty (ed.) (June 1989)
Madaba Plains Project: The 1989 Season at Tell El-`Umeiri and Vicinity and Subsequent Studies(Madaba Plains Project Series) by Larry G. Herr (ed.), et al. (April 1997)
Heshbon 1976: The Fifth Campaign at Tell Hesban : A Preliminary Report by Roger S. Boraas, Lawrence T. Geraty (June 1978)
Heshbon 1974: The Fourth Campaign at Tell Hesban : A Preliminary Report by Roger S. Boraas, Lawrence T. Geraty (June 1976)
^ abcdefCalvert, Ken (June 6, 2007). "Tribute to Dr. Lawrence T. Geraty"(PDF). Congressional Record: Extensions of Remarks. p. E1225. Archived(PDF) from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
^ abc"Geraty wins ASOR Award"(PDF). Newsletter. Institute of Archeology, Horn Archaeological Museum. Winter 2001. Archived(PDF) from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2011.