WASHINGTON, D.C.- On May 27, 2005, CCCU President Bob Andringa appointed David Gyertson to serve as a senior fellow for the Council. Senior fellows are individuals who offer to do a project on an important topic of interest to leaders of Council institutions or to assist the Council in specific ways. The appointment is renewable at the end of each calendar year.
After five years as president of Taylor University (IN), Gyertson recently accepted the position of distinguished professor of leadership formation and renewal at the School of Leadership Studies of Regent University (VA), an institution he co-founded in1977. Prior to becoming Taylor's president, Gyertson was president of Asbury College (KY) and Regent University, and served the Christian Broadcasting Network in a variety of management, leadership, publishing and broadcasting activities between 1985 and 1992.
In his new role as senior fellow for the CCCU, Gyertson will primarily focus on leadership communications and media engagement/development where the areas of research and consultation could include:
- Mentoring/advising CCCU staff as appropriate on media communications and relations, particularly with religious media.
- Helping shape pro-active CCCU media responses to major trends, issues and crises in Christ-centered higher education.
- Serving as a sounding board/advisor to the CCCU "Best Semester" initiatives that deal with communications and media.
- Being available as a resource to CCCU presidents on improving communications
- Doing a research project with a couple of his Regent Ph.D. advisees on leadership communications styles, issues etc. among CCCU institutions and presidents.
"I believe that the most strategic leadership needed throughout the world today can be provided by Christ-centered institutions of higher learning,"says Gyertson. "This appointment as a senior fellow fits with my research and executive coaching desire to help Christian leaders effectively communicate their vision and mission for the advancement of God's purposes for 21st century global engagement."
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of 175 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are now 105 member campuses in North America and all are fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 70 affiliate campuses from 24 countries are part of the CCCU. The Council's mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.