Academic Affairs, Campus Ministry, Evangelism, Student Development & Information Technology

February 28 - March 1, 2024

San Diego Marriott Mission Valley, San Diego, CA

Overview

Join the CCCU for a time of professional development, networking, and spiritual encouragement at the 2024 Multi-Academic Conference II. This gathering provides the opportunity for academic affairs, campus ministry, evangelism, student development & information technology to collaborate and network. The event will feature key note speakers and experts on the theme, but will also integrate intentional time with vocation-specific peer groups in specialized breakout sessions.

CAO Pre-MAC 2 Workshop

Current and aspiring Chief Academic Officers with at least one year of experience in an academic leadership role are invited to a MAC 2 pre-conference workshop titled “Human and Financial Resources for Mission Impact: A Peer-Learning Workshop for Chief Academic Officers” on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. The workshop will be held from approximately 12:30-5:00pm at the MAC 2 conference site in San Diego, and will address topics of importance to CAOs based on input provided to us from CCCU CAOs earlier this year. The cost of the workshop is $25. Only 30 seats are available. Register by January 15, 2024, or until seats are gone.

UQ Solutions: CAO Workshop Sponsor

We thank UQ Solutions for generously sponsoring our 2024 CAO Workshop. Learn more about UQ Solutions by visiting the sponsor page at the link at the bottom of this page.

Speakers

The Multi-Academic Conference always features distinguished speakers involved in the latest and emerging trends impacting Christian higher education. These leaders range from numerous backgrounds including data analytics, government relations, media and emerging technologies, and Christian leadership, among others.

Tim Alberta

Author, Journalist & Staff Writer for The Atlantic

Tim Alberta is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and staff writer for The Atlantic magazine. He formerly served as chief political correspondent for POLITICO. In 2019, he published the critically acclaimed book, "American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump" and co-moderated the year's final Democratic presidential debate aired by PBS Newshour. Tim joined The Atlantic in March 2021 with a mandate to keep roaming and writing and telling stories that strike at the heart of America's discontent. His work has been featured in dozens of other publications nationwide, including Sports Illustrated and Vanity Fair, and he frequently appears as a commentator on television programs in the United States and around the world. His newest book, "The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism," explores the timely, rigorously reported, and deeply personal examination of the divisions that threaten to destroy the American evangelical movement. Tim lives in southeast Michigan with his wife, three sons, and German Shepherd.

Curtis Chang

Founder, Redeeming Babel

Curtis Chang consults with nonprofits and government agencies and teaches at public, private, and Christian universities. He also leads Redeeming Babel, a nonprofit bringing theological clarity to vexing cultural issues, and has partnered with CCCU schools to help students navigate two crucial issues: mental health and politics. His most recent project, The After Party, promotes a Christ-centered political identity to combat toxic polarization through a six-session online course and book releasing from Zondervan in April 2024. Curtis is a former senior pastor and author of several books including The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self.

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton

President, Huntington University

Dr. Sherilyn R. Emberton serves as the 13th president of Huntington University.

Prior to accepting the presidency at Huntington in 2013, Dr. Emberton served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, and in that same role at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Dr. Emberton began her career in private higher education at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, as the associate vice president for academic affairs. 

She completed a Doctor of Education degree in 1999 from Texas A&M University-Commerce and both a Bachelor of Science in education degree and a Master of Education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Dr. Emberton chairs the executive board of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and sits on the Northeast Indiana Chamber of Commerce board of directors. She is the director of higher education for the US National Conference and the United Brethren Church in Christ, and she chairs the Lenawee Christian Ministries Board in Adrian, Michigan. Dr. Emberton joined the board of directors of the Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana in 2015 and the board of directors for Indiana’s AgriNovus and Elevate Ventures Northeast Indiana in 2017. In 2019, Dr. Emberton was elected to the board of directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and asked to serve on the Executive Board of Indiana Agrinovus. In 2020, Dr. Emberton was elected to serve on the Executive Committee of NAICU and the Governing Board of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).

Scott Hawley Ph.D.

Professor of Physics, Belmont University

Scott H. Hawley was thrust into considering the impacts of AI on education in 2013, upon seeing a demo of a machine-learning (ML) based audio source-separation app that he knew would change the lives of his students at Belmont University. His academic works include numerous technical works integrating AI with music and audio production, industry collaborations receiving the Les Paul Music Innovation Award from Gibson USA, and winning the Incubator Lab contest from Art+Logic. He worked as a Technical Fellow in generative AI “unicorn” company Stability AI’s audio group Harmonai, helping to build the system that was released as Stable Audio in July of 2023. Hawley became involved in AI ethics in 2017 as part of the “Bridging the Two Cultures of Science and Religion II” program run by Scholarship in Christianity in Oxford (SCIO), writing essays, a book chapter, and reviews that have appeared in "Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith," and winning the 2021 FaithTech Writing Contest. He is a Founding Member of AI and Faith, and speaks and writes regularly on matters of AI, ethics, science, and religion. He is active on social media platforms under the name @drscotthawley.

Shirley V. Hoogstra

President, CCCU

Shirley Hoogstra became the seventh president of the CCCU in September 2014. In this role, Hoogstra combines her zeal for the rule of law and her passion for Christian higher education as she promotes the value and purpose of high quality, Christ-centered liberal arts education that shapes students who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind. Prior to the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Hoogstra served for 15 years as vice president for student life at her alma mater, Calvin University, and spent more than a decade practicing law as a partner at a firm specializing in litigation in New Haven, Connecticut.

Michael Paulus

Dean of the Library, Seattle Pacific University

Michael J. Paulus, Jr., is dean of the library, assistant provost for educational technology, and associate professor of information studies at Seattle Pacific University. Dr. Paulus is the author of Artificial Intelligence and the Apocalyptic Imagination: Artificial Agency and Human Hope (Cascade Books, 2023) and co-editor of AI, Faith, and the Future: An Interdisciplinary Approach (Pickwick Publications, 2022).

Dr. John Plake

Chief Ministry Officer, American Bible Society

Dr. John Farquhar Plake is a researcher with a pastor’s heart. He bridges the worlds of social science, business intelligence, and spiritual formation, helping Christian leaders understand how people grow in Christ. Dr. Plake serves as chief ministry officer at American Bible Society and is the editor-in-chief of the annual State of the Bible research study. Over 33 years of full-time ministry, John has served as a nonprofit leader, pastor, missionary, professor, and researcher. He is an ordained minister with a Ph.D. in intercultural studies. He lives with his family in Wilmington, Delaware.

Stan Rosenberg

Stan Rosenberg, Ph.D.

Vice President for Research & Scholarship, CCCU

Stan Rosenberg is the founding director of Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford (SCIO), the UK subsidiary of the CCCU. He is also an academic member of Wycliffe Hall, on the faculty of theology and religion at the University of Oxford, and a fellow of the International Society of Science & Religion. He has published on Augustine’s thought, early Christianity and Greco-Roman science, and ancient preaching and popular religion. Rosenberg is on the editorial board of the journal, Religions, and on advisory councils for BioLogos and the Museum of the Bible. He has overseen numerous science and religion projects for faculty funded by major granting bodies and directs the Logos program on biblical manuscripts, texts, and reception. Recently, he co-organized a funded project that led to his edited book, Finding Ourselves after Darwin: Conversations on the Image of God, Original Sin, and the Problem of Evil. He holds a B.A. from Colorado State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America.

Rev. Dr. Angulus Wilson

Chaplain, Wheaton College

Rev. Dr. Angulus Dion Wilson, Ph.D., D.Min., is a dedicated servant of Christ with a profound calling to guide students in their personal relationship with Jesus. With three decades of experience in both national and international ministry, Dr. Wilson's passion for ministry has led him to establish congregations throughout North America.

As a university chaplain and church planter, he has made significant contributions to the Christian community. Dr. Wilson's academic journey is equally impressive, with a bachelor's degree in social work from Fresno Pacific University, master's degrees in spiritual formation leadership and evangelism from Wheaton College and Birmingham Theological Seminary, and doctorate degrees from Ecclesia University of Divinity and Azusa Pacific University.

Driven by his commitment to nurturing disciples and preparing students for the work of ministry, Dr. Wilson takes the initiative to create international Bible schools, organize conferences, and host seminars to equip leaders for Christian service. He has generously offered his expertise to institutions like Wheaton College, Samford University, Fresno Pacific University, and Warner Pacific University.

A globetrotter with a heart for missions, Dr. Wilson enjoys traveling internationally with students, delivering powerful sermons, and teaching the Word of God through various networks, mission agencies, and biblical conferences. He affirms, "There is no greater joy than serving students during this crucial period of their formation journey. Being a guide in their spiritual maturation is a privilege beyond words. I am genuinely honored and thrilled to be part of the Christian family."

Program

Join us for three days of dynamic plenary speakers, targeted breakout sessions, and plentiful networking opportunities. The schedule and breakout session topics will be made available in the coming days.

Registration & Pricing

Full Conference Rates

  Early Bird
(ends 11/17/23) 		Regular
(ends 2/2/24)		 Full Price
(ends 2/16/24)
CCCU Member  $675  $750 $875
CCCU Commissioner  $500  $560 $655
CCCU Member Spouse  $525  $600 $700
Non-Member  $800  $875 $1050

Hotel & Travel

We look forward to welcoming you to San Diego, CA and are happy to partner with The San Diego Marriott Mission Valley to host this event.

Our Sponsors

Thank you to our valued partners for investing in this event. Explore how their services can help you be more effective in your work.