The
Cornerstone a publication of Dallas Christian College
SUMMER 2014
Class of 2014 Presidential Transition
DCC in the DNA
A Weekend by the Lake
A FAREWELL FROM DUSTY
Dallas Christian College Educates and Mentors Students to Be People of Influence,
A
Under God’s Influence, For a Life of Influence. Early in the summer of 2003 the Board of Dallas Christian College called me to see if I would be interested in returning to my alma mater as president. Over the course of the next few months, I woke up in the middle of the night many times with ideas about programs and projects the college should undertake. Each one of them connected to the idea that a “city on a hill cannot be hidden.” These seemed inspired by God, so I accepted them as His calling for me. During the last decade, I have leaned on that sense of “calling” many times. After arriving, we set out to build that City on a Hill, raising up a generation of Influencers for the Kingdom of God. By His grace, we achieved a great deal. There were good times and there were tough times, but they were ALL blessed times. I would not trade a single day (well there WAS that day when the board and the staff named an outhouse after me...). As a team, we believed deeply that our unique blend of mentoring and educating would transform students into whole people...people who would change the world. And we believed that every student, regardless of their background, deserved this opportunity. God honored those beliefs and actions as we witnessed the transformed lives of students every year. I am very pleased by a few things that we achieved in this last decade, specifically, the deep understanding and commitment to helping students to develop Lives of Influence, the unparalleled four-year multistaged mentoring program for every student, and the incredible culture enjoyed by the team.
But there is so much left to be done. This college needs to grow and it needs to become well-known in Dallas and around the region. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the years ahead at DCC. A lifetime of opportunity awaits. As I leave, it is with great confidence in the people of DCC and even greater affection for them. I have experienced love and camaraderie like no other time in my life. For that, I will be eternally thankful. At each step along the way our amazing alumni, committed Board of Trustees, faithful church partners, and loyal donors have kept the vision moving forward. I am truly a blessed man for having served here. When I think of DCC in the years ahead, it will be with a smile on my face and gratefulness in my heart. Words cannot express my appreciation for each of you. Ten and a half years ... don’t they go by in a blink. With all my love,
Dusty Rubeck Graduate of the Class of 1983 10th President of the College – 2004-2014
2
dallas.edu
Dallas Christian College
ABOUT DR. KEITH KEERAN
Dr. Keith Keeran appointed Interim President by the Dallas Christian College Board of Trustees
T
he Dallas Christian College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Keith P. Keeran as interim president of the college. Dr. Keeran’s primary role will be to maintain the operational integrity of the college and its mission while facilitating the transition between outgoing President Dusty Rubeck and DCC’s forthcoming presidential appointment. DCC’s board chair, Paul Diaz of Austin, TX, said, “Dr. Keeran is an experienced higher education leader with an international profile among faith-based colleges and universities. He is no stranger to Dallas Christian College, having served as a trustee for nearly six years and more recently as chair of the presidential search committee. We are grateful for Dr. Keeran’s willingness to accept an interim appointment as president of the college during DCC’s Dusty Rubeck hands the DCC mace presidential transition.” to Dr. Keith Keeran, symbolizing the presidential transition.
Dr. Keith P. Keeran is the chancellor and a distinguished professor of leadership and communication at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky, where he served as president for 22 years. In addition to his long record of effective administrative leadership, Dr. Keeran has 17 years of full time teaching experience at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Dr. Keeran holds degrees from Kentucky Christian University (BA, ThB), Abilene Christian University (MA), and Michigan State University (PhD). He is the founder of Commonwealth International University in Simferopol, Crimea – recently annexed from Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Dr. Keeran also serves as the executive director of the International Alliance of Christian Colleges and Universities, a non-profit funding organization for faith-based institutions in underdeveloped and developing countries. He has broad professional experience in higher education accreditation, having served as president of the Association for Biblical Higher Education for three years and as a member of the seven-member Board of Commissioners of the Council on the Recognition of Post-Secondary Accreditation in Washington, DC for six years (now known as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.) Dr. Keeran also has a long history of service with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, having served for many years as a commissioner/trustee, as chair of the commission’s Compliance and Reports Committee, and as the Accreditation Committee chair for 35 institutional reaffirmation and special committee visits. Keith and his wife Topsy have three children and seven grandchildren. I am very pleased about the appointment of Dr. Keith Keeran as DCC’s interim president. I worked for Keith at Kentucky Christian University in the mid 90s and then he joined DCC’s board about six years ago. He is recognized as an expert in Christian higher education and widely respected as an outstanding educational leader. On a personal note, Keith has been a mentor, a role model, and a friend for 20 years. The board could not have made a stronger choice during this time of transition. Dusty Rubeck Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
3
DCC in the
DNA by David Garison
D
allas Christian College is in my DNA. It is a fundamental part of me. Growing up a Garison, I cannot remember a time it was not some part of my life. And for the last several years it has become a part of my daily existence. Whether I am in a meeting with my staff at Northside Christian Church or around a Thanksgiving feast with my family, no matter whose turn it is to host, DCC always has a seat at the table.
born a Garison is virtually a guarantee of some time to be served at DCC. Mom passed away three years ago. Her memorial service was unmistakably a Garison affair (which is something you really have to experience, it defies explanation), but it was also, in a meaningful way, a DCC affair. President Rubeck was there, not simply because he was my old classmate, friend, and DCC colleague. Dusty was there because he was president of Dallas Christian College and that day we celebrated the life of Tommie Garison. Where else would he be?
"DCC fundamentally changed my relationship with God." That is to be expected around the holidays. My parents championed DCC for decades. They put me through DCC, as they had my brothers before me. To be
When I graduated in 1986 I didn’t “leave home;" I came to Northside. Northside Christian Church is an extension of DCC, or maybe Dallas Christian College is an extension of Northside. It must be both. I guess that’s how this Body of Christ thing works.
The hallways in our offices at Northside are full of DCC alumni, and they serve in every part of our staff. I don’t have room to name them all here, but I’ll tell you about a few of them. First, though, I must tell you about another presence at Northside. My mentor and predecessor in the pulpit, the late Bill Gaslin, served on the Board of Trustees at DCC. His influence is still felt on both campuses and in the way I minister every week. I hope I can have a fraction of that kind of influence on our staff. As I said, it is pretty loaded with DCC alums.
David Garison is lead pastor at Northside Christian Church, a rapidly growing congregation on the north side of Houston in Spring, TX and a graduate of the DCC class of 1986. 4
dallas.edu
Dallas Christian College
To name a couple of them … Brent Berger (’83) and I have served together at Northside for 17 years. Brandon Forsythe (’00), who now heads up our Spiritual Formation Team, has been on our roster for 12 years. Like me, they both started at Northside in a different area of ministry than where they are now serving, but have transitioned and continue to influence our community.
I love those guys. Their influence has been crucial in us working toward our mission. As Northside has grown, it has attracted various labels: emerging church, mega church. No matter how large we have had to construct our church buildings and no matter how many worship services we add, nothing changes the fact or the feeling that Northside is a family. In the same way, DCC can be called a Christian liberal arts college or a mission of our churches, but at heart, Dallas Christian College is a family. The dominant gene in that family, and the most important relationship you have among the many you cherish, is Christ.
Each year I take an annual sabbatical at a lake house owned by one of our members. There I escape from media. I turn off my phone and neglect my inbox. I fast, read and meditate upon God’s Word and pray. As each day approaches twilight, I take a glass of ice water out to the balcony and watch the sun set over the lake. As I sit in wonder at God, even in that moment I cannot escape DCC. Dallas Christian College fundamentally changed my relationship with God. I see that same impact throughout my family and my staff, and we feed off each other: people of influence creating genuine relationships to show people Christ. DCC is in my DNA.
Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
5
A Weekend by the by LesLeigh Evans
Since 2010 graduating seniors have been invited to the President’s Influence Retreat, a weekend of serious study, serious fun and feasting, and serious time with God. Business Administration major LesLeigh Evans writes about her experience:
W
hen we arrived Friday, it was evening. The sun was beginning to set, the sky taking on a pink and orange tint. The lake was sparkling in the twilight and I thought to myself, “This is going to be a great weekend.” We began by spending time with God. For the first session we were to write about our expectations for the weekend. I looked at the question and then I looked out over the lake. Expectations? I didn’t have any expectations. The week before the retreat, I was just trying to get homework done and get life taken care of. I knew I would be gone all weekend so I tried to get most of
Lake
my work squared away beforehand. I never thought about expectations. As I stared out at the lake pondering all of this, it hit me. I was exhausted. Spring break had come and gone so fast. I spent most of my time being busy at school, just trying to make it to this weekend. I realized my expectation for the weekend was to relax, unwind, and focus on God. We came back inside after about 30 minutes and President Rubeck asked us to say aloud what we expected out of the weekend. He came to us one by one, writing down our responses. He cared about what we expected. He then asked us, “If you knew you could not fail, what would you do for God?” He again went around the room and wrote down our responses and told us to follow our dreams. President Rubeck ended the evening there, leaving us with so much more to think about. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was the only one pensive after the session but I learned a few hours later I wasn’t.
Many of us gathered to talk about our dreams and goals, talking into the wee hours. I began to think the weekend must have been designed with fellowship in mind. Because of the diversity of our majors, many of us had not had class together since our freshman or sophomore year, so it was wonderful to catch up on each other’s lives. Not only were we diverse in our majors, but there was also great diversity in our life experience. Some students were newlyweds, others engaged. Some had been married for a few years and another was expecting a baby. We sat around laughing about our childhoods. We reminisced about old times, old movies, old TV shows. I felt so much joy and thankfulness for the community of our school. I realized we were more than friends. We were truly brothers and sisters in Christ. Sunday morning we began the day with our final quiet time with God. I took a moment to breathe in the crisp morning
"I'll never forget the weekend at the lake... It changed my life." 6
dallas.edu
Dallas Christian College
air and soak up the sun. I prayed and I thanked God for what had transpired over the weekend. President Rubeck called us all back in and, one by one, asked what we thought was the most important thing learned from the weekend. For me, it was that wisdom is the ability to see through God’s eyes. It is the only spiritual gift everyone can pray for and have given to them. Next we presented our action plans — how we intended to use all that we learned over the weekend to be a stronger influence. We all went forward one by one
and President Rubeck took the time to tell each of us the ways in which we had grown and some things we could work on. It was the most beautiful and edifying part of the entire weekend. Hearing what he had to say to all of us was inspiring. Tears were shed. Hugs were given. I could not stop beaming. I’ll never forget the weekend at the lake. It was full of fun, fellowship, growth, influence, and a measure of healing. I hope future seniors take this opportunity. It changed my life.
LesLeigh is a 2014 graduate from Cypress, TX who majored in Business Administration.
Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
7
Class of 2014
President Rubeck Receives Honorary Doctorate
D
During Commencement exercises, Board of Trustees Chair Paul Diaz presented Dusty Rubeck with an Honorary Doctorate from Dallas Christian College. The Honorary Doctorate is the highest honor bestowed, and is therefore given out infrequently. Dusty was honored for his decade of service as president to his alma mater.
8
dallas.edu
Dallas Christian College
Top Row: Armando Rangel, Jr., Kendrick D. Choice, Brandon K. Navarre, Hillary FaurĂŠ, Samantha Gillette, Christian Daniel Berrier, Glennie Edwin Burks III, Thomas E. Wilson, Nathanial Robinson, Dylan Aaron Hussey, Jordan Daniel Oakes, Gerson M. Machado, Paul Luckey, William Joseph Smith Middle Row: Adreanna Raquel Alleman, Chavon Marie Bethany, Charles E. Wilson, Jr., Andrew P. Heisler, Alexis Sierra Gores, Lopati Murphy, Justin Browning, Jonathan Jones, Jennifer Saucier, Jessica Lynne Moore, Alyssa Kay Davis, April Angela Fowler Welsh, J. Kathy Fehlbaum, Grace Elizabeth Hurley, Michelle Lynn Braden Bottom Row: Carolyn Sue Smith, Joseph Michael Payne, Christian Dion Dominique, LesLeigh Jeanette Evans, Shey Elizabeth Wood, Ciara ReneĂŠ Latour, Sarah Ruth Turner, Meredith Joy Hawkins, Miranda Dawn Hahlen, Alison McGinnis, Meagan Marie Hardy, April Rose Sapp, Marlene Fernandez Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
9
Graduates worshiping during the Commencement exercises.
27 are women, 26 are men
20% will provide Christian leadership in
Valedictorian: April Fowler Welsh
local businesses.
Salutatorian: Alison McGinnis
35 are traditional, 18 are FLEXCampus™ 13% will work in the field of education. The average cumulative GPA of this class is 3.12 and 32% graduated
53% plan to further their education
with honors.
through graduate school.
Dr. Cara Snyder Christian Humanitarian Award winner: Marlene Fernandez Dr. Leroy C. Wineinger Award winner: Andrew P. Heisler
The average age of this class is 26. 38% of this class will serve in local
They came to Dallas Christian College
Lucille L. Perkins Award winner:
from Texas, Florida, Nebraska, New York,
Kathy Fehlbaum
Oklahoma, Oregon, Mexico, and Russia.
Crawford Award winner:
church or para-church ministries. 15% will reach out through urban or cross-cultural missions.
10
dallas.edu
Dallas Christian College
April Fowler Welsh
HONORS CHAPEL 2014 Each year DCC recognizes our honors and scholarship recipients in the Honors Chapel, which is the last chapel of the year. This year we were able to live-stream the chapel session so friends and family from all over the nation were able to participate.
Freshman Selah Burnett, winner of the Les Hoyt Scholarship, with Assistant Registrar Jean-Claude St. Juste during the 2014 Honors Chapel.
DFW Area Women's Retreat Astrid Linke…Practical Ministries…Dallas, TX Brintnall Scholarship Kale McQuillen…Business…Taylor, TX Jessanna Weiss…Business Administration…Carrollton, TX
Dennis Morgan Scholarship Michael Grigsby…Practical Ministries…Grapevine, TX Adrian Yarbough...Worship Arts...Woodbridge, VA Daniel Pinney Scholarship Erica Gai…Psychology…Waco, TX
Chapel Hills Christian Church Scholarship Gavin Lingo…Practical Ministries…Cashion, OK Jackie Royse…Worship Arts…Granbury, TX
Myron & Eleanor Reichardt Scholarship Amarys Chavez…Business Administration…Eagle Pass, TX Zachary Sharp…Practical Ministries…Wylie, TX
Christian Education Scholarship Carissa Switzer…Elementary Education…Mansfield, OH Adrianna Walton-Rogers…Education…Grapevine, TX
James & Joyce Royse Scholarship Benjamin Lantzer…Ministry Leadership…Dillard, GA
Christian Ministry Scholarship Josh Houston…Practical Ministries…Highland Village, TX Megen Tomlinson...Worship Arts...Cross Roads, TX Marilyn Foggin Scholarship Diana Jimenez…Elementary Education…Tucson, AZ Kory Ford Memorial Scholarship Cory Williams…Ministry Leadership…San Antonio, TX Vanessa Munoz…Psychology…Fort Worth, TX William O. Gaslin Scholarship Devin Otten…Psychology…Euless, TX Joshua Smith...Biblical Studies...Bedford, TX Henry Halff Scholarship Paul Justice…Intercultural Studies…Pittsburgh, PA Les Hoyt Scholarship Selah Burnett…Practical Ministries…Bonham, TX Sonia Carrillo...Intercultural Studies...Austin, TX
J.W. Rubeck Scholarship Ashley Hudspeth…Practical Ministries…Mesquite, TX Sydney Lubin…Worship Arts…Redondo Beach, CA Irvin Rodriguez…Music Ministry…Mission, TX Kassandra Whittle...Practical Ministries...Beeville, TX Ed Schorstein Scholarship Miles Burnside…Business…Alvin, TX Sade Garr...Psychology...Kansas City, KS Bob & Carol Smith Scholarship Chloe Fahs…Practical Ministries…Lakeland, MN Joshua Wolfe…Practical Ministries...Fort Worth, TX Roy Wheeler Scholarship Hugh "Alex" Dennis…Practical Ministries…Irving, TX Jonathan McDonald...Interdisciplinary Studies...Shreveport, LA Servant Award Bobby Murphy…Intercultural Studies…Irving, TX
Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
11
Zach Diaz 2014 Graduate McKinney, TX Interdisciplinary Studies It was always my dream to play college baseball. At Dallas Christian College I was able to play four years of baseball. DCC also helped me develop an amazing relationship with God. Two years ago, I realized God called me to coach young baseball players, mentor them and spread the Word of God through baseball. Last summer I interned with the Rawlings Mavericks out of McKinney, Texas as an assistant baseball coach. Anytime I was in the dugout I would try to make an impact on the players. I would give them words of encouragement and describe my life experiences as a player or give them advice on personal issues they were dealing with. I am grateful that DCC gave me the opportunity to coach for the Rawlings Mavericks and mentor these young players to transform them into better men. 12
dallas.edu
Meagan Hardy 2014 Graduate Carrollton, TX Intercultural Studies Last summer I interned at World Impact Dallas, working with the youth and children. I facilitated different mission groups that came to volunteer with our ministry and took over thirty inner-city kids to a ranch in Kansas. There I saw ten-year-old Tre raise his hand to answer every question the teacher would ask during Bible lessons. Eighth grader Chasiti memorized all of the Bible verses given for the week and then asked me if I could give her more. Alvin became so engrossed in the Bible that he read all of Genesis. Every time I would see him, his face would be buried in the Word. Eight-year-old Rebecca started the week terrified to pray out loud, but by the end she was the first to volunteer at prayer time. Last summer was a truly wonderful experience. I learned so much . . . I did not think it was possible, but my love for the city, and for my kids, grew even greater.
Dallas Christian College
Chris Miller Junior Yukon, OK Practical Ministries Last summer, I interned at my home church, Christ Church of Yukon in Yukon, Oklahoma. I was raised in this church and my grandfather, John Miller, preached there for many years. Over the summer I was able to reach out to a student in the youth group who was going through major life change. I preached against being a sluggard while sitting in a recliner as an illustration. One of the most gratifying things was starting “Nerf wars� before Wednesday night youth group. We provided Nerf guns for those that could not afford their own. This brought in many more kids than would have come if all we had scheduled was the Bible study. We basically engaged in the kind of recreational behavior that was a bit different, but the staff saw the opportunity to influence these kids.
The end of a school year means summer internships are just around the corner. Every summer Dallas Christian College students serve as interns in various ministries and businesses. As this year's internships get underway, here is a look back at our students' influence in Summer 2013.
Marlene Fernandez 2014 Graduate Lewisville, TX Biblical Studies I spent last summer ministering to the Kuna people of Panama. The Kuna live in remote parts of the country, making them difficult to reach. The women are even more difficult to reach for a Spanish-speaking intern like myself, as most of them only speak Kuna. One memorable day we came across a man named Palacios, and we shared the Gospel with him in Spanish. Right behind him stood a woman who seemed very engaged. When we finished talking to Palacios she looked at me and said in Spanish, “I heard everything you told him. I want that.” We prayed for her and she came to Christ. All summer I kept thinking of Isaiah 9:2, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Jessica Moore 2014 Graduate Bastrop, TX Intercultural Studies Last summer it was my turn to be an intern for Lori Pinney-Nij. Lori is a DCC alumna (1978) who founded and runs Morning Glory Christian Academy in San Raymundo, Guatemala. She teaches Spanish-speaking children in a Spanish-speaking culture. One of Lori’s goals is for every student to leave Morning Glory knowing how to speak English. This gives the students a better chance to find a job in the city. I left for Guatemala knowing only how to say "¡hola!" The first English class I taught was awkward and short. I kept a Spanish dictionary close to my side and continuously flipped through it during class. As the summer progressed, I was able to use it less. That’s how it is on the mission field. You must learn their language, eat their food, and interact with the people the way they are used to. When it is your turn to go, do not let your comfort zone hold you back from the opportunities God presents to you.
Alyssa Davis 2014 Graduate Dallas, TX Practical Ministries I interned last summer with Pioneer Bible Translators in Guinea. It was my first time being in a third world country and it changed me. I was reading through Isaiah over the summer and one passage stood out to me like never before: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." - Isaiah 61:1. Last summer I saw people literally living in filth. I saw markets where the food was covered with flies. I saw children playing in filthy water and others with birth defects that made them outcasts. It is all very real to me now. I am so honored and thankful that God has called me to be a missionary.
Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
13
Honoring Dr. Rife Dr. Ron Rife retired at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. At the time of his retirement, he served Dallas Christian College as director of institutional effectiveness. In addition, he was vice president of academic affairs twice, securing our national accreditation and preparing us for regional accreditation. All the while he mentored multiple generations of DCC men and women. A few of our alumni reflect on his influence in their lives:
The fall of 1980 was the beginning of my junior year. I was enjoying school and thriving in my relationship with the Lord. And then my father died of a heart attack. Through the grieving process I became more skeptical and critical about everything I thought I believed and was being taught. At a key point Dr. Rife said we needed to meet together once a week for counseling. We sat in chairs knee-to-knee in his office. Through the course of about sixteen weeks he helped me process what I was thinking and feeling. What he did was simple, profound, and thoroughly Biblical: he invested time with me, challenging and imploring me to hear God’s voice and follow Christ. In a word: discipleship. He is still, to this day, a spiritual mentor to me and an example I strive to follow. Hank Lamb (’82) Senior Pastor, Central Christian Church, Richardson, TX Ron Rife is one of those rare Christians who manages to demand holiness while offering unconditional love; I've only met one man about whom I might say to someone, "Imitate him as he imitates Christ." I'm glad to be able to say he took me into his home and made me a part of his life—a spiritual foster son. In him (and his wife, Doris) the extreme holiness and boundless love of God meet. He made it possible for me to live a functional Christian life, to stay married for 28 years, to raise children in Christ. Charlie Starr (’85) Professor of English and Humanities, Kentucky Christian University
During my time at Dallas Christian College he confronted, cajoled, encouraged, and inspired me. He gave hard words to hear, that needed to be said, and was unwavering in his commitment to God and the betterment of me as a person. The advice and direction that he gave literally changed the direction that I would take. After DCC, he still had a huge influence and effect on how I lived and things I did for the Kingdom. Without his leading as a mentor and confronter, God could not have used my life the way he has. He has helped me as a father and a husband. Dr. Rife has been one of, if not the most influential man of God in my life. Matthew Ford (’84) Adjunct Professor of Youth Ministry, Dallas Christian College When I think of Dr. Ron Rife I think of one word: mentor. Dr. Rife wasted no time telling me that God wanted me to go into the ministry—that He was calling me. I remember responding with something like, “I haven’t really heard God tell me that yet.” He said, “You just did!” I thought he was a bit crazy. Still do. But that moment marked the beginning of an incredible relationship that continues to this day. He mentored me while I was at DCC. He mentored my wife and me as we prepared for marriage. He continues to serve in that role of mentor because that is what he is. I remember Dr. Rife always saying, “David, just be God’s man.” That is Ron Rife. He is God’s man. David Garison (’86) Lead Pastor, Northside Christian Church, Spring, TX
In more than 60 years of history at Dallas Christian College, fewer people have had more impact on DCC and her staff and students. Ron Rife has been a brilliant colleague, friend, and great inspiration. May God bless Ron and Doris Rife. Dusty Rubeck 14 dallas.edu Dallas Christian College President
vice president for academics announces f a c u lt y c h a n g e s
NEW BUSINESS CHAIR Dr. Bea Bourne has joined Dallas Christian College as chair of the Business Department, replacing the retiring Dr. Tom Dodgen (see below). Dr. Bourne has a Doctorate in Management from University of Phoenix, along with graduate work in marketing and human resource management. She has extensive leadership experience with AT&T and the Dallas Women's Museum. She has also served on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. Prior to coming to Dallas Christian College, Dr. Bourne taught at University of Phoenix, where she was lead faculty in her area; Argosy University; and LeTourneau University. She has taught as an adjunct at Dallas Christian College for several semesters. She is an extremely capable, articulate, impressive professional and committed person of faith. We are thrilled that Dr. Bourne is joining the Dallas Christian College family.
NEW EDUCATION CHAIR Dr. Brian Horn comes to us from the Center for Teacher Education at Colorado Mesa University, where he served as the Secondary Licensure Coordinator. Prior to his time at Colorado Mesa University, he taught for more than a decade at Creekview High School in Carrollton, Texas. There he received many honors, including being chosen as the Outstanding Teacher of the Humanities by Humanities Texas in 2011. He has over twenty-one national or regional presentations and five scholarly publications to his credit. Dr. Horn received his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Texas, and his M.Ed. and B.S. from the University of Oklahoma. He has also taught as an adjunct professor at UNT and at the University of Memphis. Dr. Horn is not only a gifted educator, he is also a man of deep faith and convictions, devoted to his family and to service in the Kingdom of God.
DR. TOM DODGEN RETIRES The Board of Trustees of Dallas Christian College gratefully acknowledged Dr. C. Thomas Dodgen upon the occasion of his retirement, recognizing his service to the Kingdom of God. Dr. Dodgen’s faithful ministry to Dallas Christian College for eight years, serving in multiple capacities, is a testament to his heart for God’s ministry and His people. His influence is evident in the college’s financial stewardship and the lives of students and alumni who learned from him in the classroom. As Dr. Dodgen begins this sabbath chapter of his life, he does so with the prayers and blessings of a grateful DCC family.
Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
15
DCC TRUSTEES ANNOUNCE THE SEARCH FOR A PRESIDENT
T
he Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee of Dallas Christian College have
initiated a nationwide search for the next President of the College. The search began as Mr. Dusty Rubeck announced his plans to step down from the presidency after more than ten years of effective leadership. President Rubeck ended his presidency at the end of the 20132014 academic year to assume the presidency of Church Development Fund in Irvine, California. Dusty Rubeck with Rod Wallace, Commencement 2012
An Introduction to DCC A broad perspective of the world begins in the culturally diverse Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex on the 22-acre campus of Dallas Christian College. Located in the stately and picturesque North Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch, DCC is a private, four-year, co-educational, and comprehensive Christian college identified with the fellowship of independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. DCC offers rigorous academics and a practical, broad-based, “real life” emphasis, designed to challenge the whole student.
remarkable and rare among institutions of higher education.
Founded in 1950, the College emphasizes its core values through residential life and co-curricular and classroom experiences. DCC’s rich atmosphere and culture are accentuated by its diverse assemblage of more than 300 students and 9 full-time faculty (plus 30 part-time), many of whom hold the terminal degree in their teaching discipline. The largest contingency of students comes from Texas, but at least 20 states and 1 foreign country are also represented.
The mission of Dallas Christian College is to educate and mentor students to be people of influence, under God’s influence, for a life of influence. For this reason the general education core includes 30 semester hours in biblical and theological studies. At DCC students may prepare for a calling in Christian ministry, teacher education, business, and psychology, or craft an interdisciplinary degree to support a broader range of career options. Degree candidates may choose between three nationally accredited degrees, the Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Arts and the Bachelor of Science.
The school’s small intimate environment allows for individual attention and personal growth. At DCC every student has the opportunity to develop as a leader and spiritual mentor. Ask students what it is that makes DCC unique and distinctive, and they will tell you that it is the campus culture and mission of the College that makes DCC a special place to prepare for a meaningful career. The campus culture of unity and collegiality is 16
dallas.edu
Dallas Christian College
The College is committed to personally mentoring every student and to impacting the world through graduates who see their career not as a job, but as a calling. What does career as a calling mean? It means simply that students are not only preparing to do a particular kind of work, they are preparing to be God’s representative in the workplace so that people can see what God looks like when God teaches a lesson, or closes a business deal, or preaches a sermon, or helps hurting people.
DCC is a faith community where twice-weekly chapel services provide opportunity for worship, spiritual formation and refocusing, and where intercollegiate athletics (men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s
volleyball, men’s baseball) provide an opportunity to develop personal discipline, self-confidence, and leadership under the oversight and supervision of coaches that are first of all mentors. Nearly 100 students participate in the College’s intercollegiate sports programs, which are affiliated with the NCCAA (Division II.) The College’s intercollegiate programs have won 2 national championships and several regional banners. DCC’s strong ethnic diversity supports the College’s international outreach which stretches across the world to places like Uganda and Mexico. Students also participate in a local urban outreach that serves South Dallas in association with World Impact Dallas. DCC has been an accredited member of the Association for Biblical Higher Education since 1976. ABHE is a national accreditor and is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit faith-based colleges and universities across the United States. The College is also an associate member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, and a member of the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. CHEA reviews and affirms the accreditation processes, procedures and standards of all regional, national, and specialized accrediting agencies in the U.S. In addition to
these authorizations and affirmations of institutional quality and integrity, the next president of Dallas Christian College will have the opportunity to lead the College into regional accreditation with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Already DCC administrators are putting the final touches on the College’s application for membership leading to regional accreditation. The College’s comprehensive fee schedule (tuition, fees, room and board) is lower than 73 percent of the private colleges in Texas. DCC students will receive an estimated $3.1 million in federal financial aid (in grants and loans) this year. With more than 90 percent of its students receiving some form of financial aid, DCC works to ensure that every motivated student receives an affordable, quality education. The operating budget for the fiscal year ending in 2014 is $4.9 million. The College has a tradition of administrative stability and exceeds national norms in presidential tenure. Departing president, Dusty Rubeck, served as the chief executive for ten years, and other top level DCC administrators have also served the College for many years.
The Agendas of Presidential Leadership The presidency of Dallas Christian College is one of the most attractive leadership positions currently available among Christian Church/Church of Christ colleges. DCC is ideally positioned geographically and has a history of financial stability. The College has tremendous potential and its next president has a rare and exciting opportunity to provide the kind of executive leadership that will ensure the future and make a significant contribution to the global outreach of Christ’s missionary church. As the search began, the DCC Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee reflected on the context within which the next president would provide leadership. In doing so, we believed we could be helpful to prospective candidates by outlining current and future institutional issues, thereby helping them determine whether to express interest in the position. At the same time, we thought this process would be beneficial to us as we evaluate candidates. The descriptions that follow reflect our perceptions of what DCC is today and what we desire it to be in the future.
Achieving a Shared Vision Dallas Christian College is unique within American higher education. Founded in 1950 as a single purpose institution, DCC educated students exclusively for congregational leadership within independent Christian Churches in the State of Texas. While this educational emphasis remains a strong focus, curricular offerings have expanded in recent years to include broader career opportunities and increased influence in the marketplace. Today’s graduates are “salt and light” beyond the church, in their workplaces and communities. In 1976 the school achieved national accreditation and today it awards baccalaureate degrees in a number of disciplines. Having had two distinctively different missions in a relatively short life span, the College now finds itself in a unique position to craft a new and exciting vision. Many of the components for future success already exist at DCC today. It is now time to build on past accomplishments and combine these components into a compelling new vision that will define the role the College will play in this new millennium. An initial and critical task for the next president
Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
17
will be that of leading the discussions to refine and clarify that definition. By location and tradition, Dallas Christian College is indeed distinctly different from many other institutions. The challenge will be the development and implementation of a clear, concise, and commonly held vision of Dallas Christian College that will be equal to the changing needs of families, churches and communities in the 21st Century.
Strengthening Financial Health and Stability Like many relatively small, independent, tuition-driven institutions, DCC is highly dependent on adequate enrollments to maintain financial stability. Enrollment growth is part of an overall solution to institutional health and well-being. While current enrollments are approaching 300 students, projected optimum enrollments for financial stability should be in the range of 1000 to 1200 students. Many of the programs, curricular and co-curricular, needed to produce this growth are already in place. To grow and sustain enrollments at this level the next president will need to establish advisement and educational support programs to ensure high levels of retention while at the same time attracting new and better prepared students. Nontraditional, adult and distance learning programs are already in place, as is the technological infrastructure to support these programs, but these need to be given more attention and additional resources if the College is to attract and enroll students outside its normal reach. While church support has historically been an important revenue source for the College, this support has failed to keep pace with the increasing costs of maintaining today’s campus. This is especially noticeable in the area of expensive educational and administrative technology which must be constantly maintained and upgraded. One of the College’s greatest strengths is the quality of its faculty and staff. Like many colleges and universities, DCC will face significant faculty turnover in the next decade. In order to retain and recruit top faculty the next president will need to make professional development and salary adjustments a priority. Though recent innovations in revenue enhancement are showing signs of improvement, the next president will have to give considerable attention to donor relations and to the development of a stronger financial position. With the development of effective enrollment and marketing strategies and a clearly articulated case statement for donor support, the fiscal stability of the College can be strengthened significantly.
18
dallas.edu
Dallas Christian College
Maintaining a Clear Focus on Quality Christ-centered Higher Education The Christian higher education landscape has changed remarkably over the past twenty years and new presidential leadership with the kind of skills and experiences that are aligned with present and future needs will serve the College well. One important litmus test of institutional quality is regional accreditation. While work is already underway toward accreditation with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the goal of regional accreditation will need to remain a presidential priority. While the challenges facing the next president are significant, they are far from impossible to manage. The case for supporting the College has never been stronger. Its academic integrity and credibility and the scholarship of its faculty are the highest in the history of the institution. Its maturing reputation and the character of its administrative leadership are held in high regard among regional and national professional organizations as well as within the national accrediting community, but now there needs to be a new agenda and a new vision under new presidential leadership. While much has changed over the past twenty years, and more change will occur under the leadership of a new president, there is one thing that will not be compromised. Dallas Christian College exists to advance the mission and cause of Christ by educating the next generation of Christian leaders for service to the church and to the professions. The College exists to equip students for the propagation of the gospel. Christ is at the center of DCC’s mission and purpose. The next president will cast a vision for the College that is first and foremost Christ-centered and the lessons and life principles of Christ will continue to be integrated into every academic discipline and into all aspects of college life and activity.
Planning Strategically for the Future Implied within the foregoing agendas is a systematic process by which these goals might be accomplished. While planning has been used to achieve past successes, the next president will need to call upon all constituents of the College to work together in a process that integrates programs, budgets, and assessments into a clearly designed model. Such planning, well conceived and executed, will move Dallas Christian College to the next higher level of achievement. The hand of presidential leadership in achieving these ends is apparent. There are obviously other issues with which the next president of Dallas Christian College will be involved. However, we on the Presidential Search Committee believe those items noted above to be among the most important. We believe that the next decade will be the most exciting in the history of the College. This is an exceptional opportunity for presidential leadership.
The Qualities of Presidential Leadership The Agendas of Leadership noted previously imply certain qualities and experiences that will be inherent in a person who will be successful as President of Dallas Christian College. As we have defined these characteristics, we believe the next President of DCC will be: 1. A respected academic, giving evidence of proficiency and achievement in teaching and scholarship, including an understanding of key issues affecting higher education as well as the College’s standing within the higher education community. 2. An experienced administrator, managing effectively financial, human and physical resources.
3. An articulate spokesperson, able to communicate the vision and mission of the College and its commitment to the integration of faith and learning and to Christ-centered higher education.
7. A model of the spirit-filled life, beyond reproach in his personal and family life, a person of highest character and integrity.
4. A fund-raiser who understands the importance of relationships and capitalizes on opportunities to create philanthropic friends and support for the College. 5. A visionary who can realistically imagine the College’s future and build the kind of consensus, inside and outside the institution, that is required to achieve that ideal. 6. A strategic planner and clear analytical thinker who is confident in the ability of the College community to achieve positive organizational objectives.
8. A team-builder who is able to bring together the many varied and diverse perspectives that are part of the reality of a college campus. 9. An advocate for the doctrinal and theological positions held in common by congregations within the fellowship of independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, and a friend to all who accept Christ as Lord. 10. A collaborative leader who engages others in the planning and decisionmaking process.
The Process of Nomination and Candidacy Applicants should submit a letter of interest in the position which reflects on The Qualities of Presidential Leadership noted above, a résumé or curriculum vitae; and the names, addresses and phone numbers of five references. Nominations or letters of personal interest should be submitted to: Keith P. Keeran, PhD Chair, Presidential Search Committee Dallas Christian College 2700 Christian Parkway Dallas, TX 75234 presidentialsearch@dallas.edu The review of completed candidate files will begin in May and will continue until an appointment is announced. Dallas Christian College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages the candidacies of all qualified persons, regardless of gender or ethnicity.
Dallas Christian College
dallas.edu
19
2700 Christian Parkway Dallas, TX 75234-7299 www.dallas.edu
The average student receives $1,800 in unfunded financial assistance in the journey to become “Living Stones” in the Kingdom of God. This adds up to over $500,000 in support each year. There is no endowment to fund these scholarships, which means we rely on friends like you. Please consider helping DCC build these living stones by donating to the Living Stones Scholarship fund at www.dallas. edu/livingstones.
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” - 1 Peter 2:5
Fall Events August 17-18
New Student Orientation
August 19
First Day of Fall 2014 Classes
October 2-4
Friends and Family Weekend
December 5-6
Christmas Dinner Theatre