CCCU Leadership Transition

The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), a higher education association of more than 185 Christian institutions around the world, is seeking a new President to follow the highly successful tenure of Shirley Hoogstra, who has announced her plans to retire from the position later this year.

Dr. Dan Boone, Chair of the Board of Directors and President of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN, announced in January the creation of a search committee to oversee the process. The committee members are:

• Dan Boone – President of Trevecca Nazarene University, CCCU Board Chair
• David Wright – President Emeritus of Indiana Wesleyan University, CCCU Board Member, Committee Chair
• Sherilyn Emberton – President of Huntington University, CCCU Board Member
• Candice McQueen – President of Lipscomb University
• Chip Pollard – President of John Brown University
• Wayne Lewis – President of Houghton University

FaithSearch Partners, a nationally-recognized executive search firm with a primary focus on recruiting leaders for faith-based institutions, was selected by the Executive Committee of the CCCU Board of Directors to provide management support for the search. Representatives from FaithSearch Partners conducted more than two dozen personal interviews with CCCU constituents in February. In addition, a survey was made available to the CCCU membership, seeking additional input. More than 60 individuals provided responses to the survey. The search consultants then offered a report to the search committee, including a profile of the ideal candidate for the position. The committee approved the document and the recommended process, and the search for a new President officially began.

“With profound appreciation to Shirley Hoogstra for her vibrant leadership, we now embark on the next chapter of Christ-centered higher education. The guiding hand of God, and the wisdom and discernment of our search team and partners, will lead us as we seek our next president.” - Dr. Dan Boone

"Thanks to the outstanding leadership of President Hoogstra, the CCCU enjoys the strong support of its members, and is positioned to serve those members well in the future.  The Presidential Search Committee is confident that God has prepared an outstanding leader for the Christian higher education movement.  We look forward to pursuing the discernment process with our candidates over the coming months." - Dr. David Wright

On Monday, July 15, 2024, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities Board of Trustees, and the CCCU, officially announced the selection of David A. Hoag as the organization's eighth president.

Hoag, a CCCU board member, was most recently the president of Warner University, a CCCU institution in Florida, from 2016-2024.

Dr. Hoag demonstrated his lifelong dedication to Christian higher education through decades of leadership in Christ-centered universities, where he served in advancement and executive capacities. His record of success in accreditation, gift-giving and grant management effectively resourced the vision and mission of the schools he served as well as Christian higher education more broadly.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hoag served at four different CCCU institutions: Warner University, Trinity International University, Greenville University, and Asbury University.

Dr. Hoag holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Asbury University, a master’s degree in education from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. in higher education from St. Louis University.

He previously served on the executive committee on the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) and the Council of Presidents for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

He is married to Joanna, his wife of 38 years, and they have two married daughters who are graduates of CCCU institutions.

The full news release of this announcement can be read here.