David L. McKenna

DAVID LOREN MCKENNA

Biographical Brief

January 1, 2015

David McKenna has served more than 50 years in American higher education with faculty appointments at The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan in preparation for the call to 33 consecutive years as a president in Christian higher education. Beginning in 1961 at Spring Arbor College (now University) McKenna developed a junior college into a four-year Christian liberal arts college; at Seattle Pacific University, he led the transition from a four-year college to university status; and at Asbury Theological Seminary he guided the process to receive the largest grant ever given in American history to a free-standing graduate school of theology. In 1994, he retired as President Emeritus of Asbury Theological Seminary to write, speak and consult on subjects related to leadership in higher education and ministry. In 2003, he retired as Chair Emeritus, Board of Trustees, Spring Arbor University.

McKenna holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Western Michigan University, Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and the Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from the University of Michigan. He has been awarded ten honorary doctorates, named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International, honored by Stanley and Dorothy Kresge’s endowment for the David L. McKenna Christian Leaders Scholarship for business students at Seattle Pacific University, and recognized as First Citizen of Seattle by The Municipal League in 1976. Additional honors have come from Spring Arbor University with the David and Janet McKenna Carillon Tower, Seattle Pacific University with the David McKenna Hall for the School of Business, Government and Economics, and Asbury Theological Seminary with the David and Janet McKenna Chapel. As an educational leader in American higher education, McKenna served as Founding Chair for the Christian College Consortium (parent organization for the Council of Christian College & Universities) and Secretary for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. In 1980, he was a finalist for the Secretary of Education in President Ronald Reagan’s Cabinet. As a religious leader ordained in the Free Methodist Church, McKenna has held the position of Vice-President in the National Association of Evangelicals and in the North American section of the World Methodist Council. While serving as a Consulting Editor for the magazine, Christianity Today, he also became known as a national radio commentator with the weekly sign-off, “You have heard the thoughts and felt the heartbeat of David McKenna.” Thirty seven books, ranging across the fields of psychology, biblical commentary, Christian leadership, history and theology add to his legacy of leadership.

David and Janet McKenna celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary in 2016. They are parents of four children, Douglas, Debra, Suzanne and Robert, twelve grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A lakeside condo in Kirkland, Washington is their home.