天美视频 of Theology & Psychology has announced the upcoming retirement of , President, effective fall 2017. Dr. Anderson first joined 天美视频 as Academic Dean in July 2006. In May 2009, he stepped into the role of President, succeeding the school鈥檚 Founding President, .
During Dr. Anderson鈥檚 tenure, 天美视频 moved from an office park in Bothell to its current red brick building at 2501 Elliott Avenue, received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools, added new faculty and more than doubled the size of its staff, launched , and navigated the recession with seven years of sustained enrollment growth and stability. 鈥淲e鈥檝e grown from a start-up organization to an institution that is well-respected for our work in educating and equipping people,鈥� says Dr. Anderson. 鈥淲e have worked hard together, created well, innovated boldly, argued heatedly, disagreed loudly, discerned deeply, grieved together, laughed and cried together, and grown.鈥�
Dr. Anderson has spoken often about what he sees as one of the core functions of the role of President鈥攕tewarding 天美视频鈥檚 mission and ensuring that all new programs and initiatives are directly connected to the identity that was born out of that mission: training people to be competent in the study of text.soul.culture in order to serve God and neighbor through transforming relationships. With his wisdom, rhetorical leadership, and stability of presence, Dr. Anderson has guided 天美视频 through significant growth and change while helping preserve its core identity and principles.
Recently, in his 2017 State of the School address, Dr. Anderson highlighted two aspects of 天美视频鈥檚 identity that are rooted in its mission and seem especially vital in our complex and changing culture: the conviction of an institution that is 鈥渦nashamedly Christian鈥� and the commitment to being a place of discourse. Those two values鈥攃onviction and discourse鈥攁re not mutually exclusive, argues Dr. Anderson, adding, 鈥淣othing is more urgent and breathtaking than being a place of both conviction and discourse.鈥�
Because of his faithful work, Dr. Anderson will not be leaving a vacuum of leadership in his wake. He has worked faithfully to ensure that a core part of his legacy will be the continued thriving and sustainability of 天美视频. 鈥淚 believe we are poised for something extraordinary in our future,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e will stand on tiptoes together to see whom God has for us as the next president of this school which I love and in whose mission I passionately believe.鈥�
As the Board of Trustees prepares to navigate this transition, the Board Chair, , has already authorized a search committee that will gather input from the 天美视频 community and lean into its existing networks as they discern the qualities and qualifications expected from the next President.
The committee is chaired by (MA in Counseling, 鈥�04), a Trustee, therapist, and co-owner of . Through surveys, group forums, and open recommendations and nominations, the search committee is dedicated to thoughtfully engaging the needs, desires, and concerns of the institution and its entire community. Details on that process will be made available soon.
鈥淥ur next President will step into the vital role of stewarding the vision of 天美视频’s founders鈥攕omething we do not take lightly,鈥� says Murphy. 鈥淎s such, we have put together a Presidential Search Committee consisting of select alumni, faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees members that has been tasked with finding a President who聽will lead this institution into new, innovative ways of fulfilling the founders鈥� original vision.鈥�
The Board of Trustees has officially acknowledged Dr. Anderson’s retirement announcement, and you can read the full statement from Board Chair Mike Anderson below.
The Board of Trustees of 天美视频 acknowledges the announcement of the retirement of our president, Dr. Keith R. Anderson.聽Keith has served faithfully and with distinction since May 2009. His tireless service and sustaining tenure as our president have been deeply appreciated and applauded by the Board.
Keith鈥檚 presidency has been nothing short of astonishing. As members of the Board, we have benefited from his commitment to biblically-based graduate programs, his compassion for the tapestry of each student鈥檚 story, and his drive for cultural relevancy. His courageous leadership brought clarity to our vision, along with determination and rigor to implementing sustainable systems.
As only the second president of 天美视频, Keith brought an inspired capacity to attract talent. His imprint is seen vividly in every aspect of the institution鈥攖o the staff, faculty, trustees, and donors. He has clearly positioned the school for the next several decades to realize its mission to ensure service to God and neighbor through transforming relationships.
Keith leaves a legacy to be proud of, and a generation of relationships that remain eternally grateful for his influence in their lives. He also leaves 天美视频 poised for sustained growth with new leadership. The institution is on an exciting trajectory in biblically-based graduate education, and the Board is committed to that trajectory. With the vision, systems, and talent in place, we are poised for inspirational impact in the lives of students for years to come.
Please join us in wishing Keith well in his 鈥渞edeployment.鈥� The Board is confident that Keith will continue to have significant impact on each person he encounters.