JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 1, 2005 — 51社区 president David S. Dockery was elected chairman of the board of directors for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Jan. 30 in Washington D.C.
鈥淭his is a great honor for 51社区,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淚 am pleased to represent Union in this significant way and to help give guidance and direction to Christian education in this country and around the world in the coming days.鈥�
Duane Litfin, president of Wheaton College, was pleased with Dockery鈥檚 election.
鈥淭he CCCU has had a series of effective chairs, and David Dockery will undoubtedly continue this tradition,鈥� Litfin said. 鈥淒avid is a gracious but strong leader. He is articulate, even-handed, theologically astute and is well-respected by those he must lead. I think David is the perfect chair for this next stretch of the CCCU鈥檚 history and he will have the board鈥檚 and the staff鈥檚 full support.鈥�
Headquartered in Washington D.C., CCCU is an international higher education association of intentionally Christian colleges and universities. It has 104 member institutions in North America and 68 affiliates in 24 countries. Members include such schools as Wheaton College, Biola University, Gordon College, Azusa Pacific University and Taylor University.
Dockery is the first president of a Southern Baptist college or university to hold this position with the CCCU. He will serve a two-year term as chairman.
Jon Wallace, president of Azusa Pacific University who was elected secretary/treasurer for the CCCU board, said Dockery was selected because of his ability to lead with the highest standard of excellence.
鈥淚 know as a fellow board member, I have the utmost confidence in both his wisdom and his leadership ability,鈥� Wallace said.
Union provost Carla Sanderson said Dockery鈥檚 election is especially significant because of what is on the CCCU horizon, including the International Forum on Christian Higher Education in 2006.
鈥淚t is a wonderful opportunity,鈥� Sanderson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just any old board election. They went after Dr. Dockery at, I think, the most crucial time in the life of the council. They鈥檝e gone after one they believe in.鈥�
For Union trustee Claude Pressnell, the CCCU chair is one of the few key positions of leadership in Christian higher education in the United States.
鈥�(Dockery鈥檚) leadership as chairman of the board of the CCCU will provide strong guidance in shaping Christian higher education over the next decade,鈥� Pressnell said. 鈥淚 am excited to see what the future holds under his visionary leadership.鈥�
Jay Kesler, president emeritus at Taylor University, described Dockery鈥檚 election as 鈥渁 wonderful breath of fresh air鈥� for the CCCU.
鈥淭he appearance of David Dockery on the scene as CCCU chairman is one of the most welcomed events of the last several years,鈥� Kesler said. 鈥淗e brings vision and academic leadership that we all need as we lead our schools.鈥�