CCCU Announces Senior Fellow for Diversity

(WASHINGTON, D.C., August, 2022) –The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, in agreement with and the affirmation of the SNU President, Dr. Keith Newman, announced Dr. Lena Crouso as Senior Advisor and Fellow for Diversity. She currently serves as the Vice-President for Intercultural Learning and Engagement, Chief Diversity Officer and Professor at Southern Nazarene University. She will begin her 13-month contract role with the CCCU in September.

“Dr. Crouso has been an invaluable leader across the CCCU. This half-time appointment to the CCCU while continuing to serve SNU half-time is a tremendous gift to the CCCU.  I am grateful to SNU president, Keith Newman, for his open-hearted support of the CCCU and Dr. Crouso.  The CCCU desires to be the best in all the areas it serves it members.  Having wise and thoughtful counsel in the area of diversity will allow us to fulfill our goal,“ says CCCU President Shirley V. Hoogstra.

“We are delighted to partner with President Shirley Hoogstra in our support of Dr. Lena Crouso, SNU’s Chief Diversity Officer, in her selection as the CCCU Senior Advisor and Fellow for Diversity,” said Newman. “A gifted and accomplished senior leader, Dr. Crouso will be a wonderful advocate and resource for CCCU’s work in this strategic and mission-critical arena.”

 “I am honored for this opportunity to contribute to the mission of the CCCU, as well help advance the strong commitment CCCU has given to God’s diversity work in Christian higher education. My calling, both as an educator and leader, has given me joy and purpose in God’s plans around the work for the beloved community. I am eager to build upon that within our member institutions as we commit ourselves to the reconciling work, both individually and collectively, and certainly position the CCCU as the leading voice on diversity today, and into the future,” said Crouso.

Crouso has been a longtime volunteer for the CCCU as a commissioner, speaker, advisor and teacher, bringing her experience and Christ centered expertise around the work of DEI. Her new role includes consulting on a wide variety of DEI themes, issues, communications, and initiatives, as well as providing diversity and spiritual development for CCCU leaders and teams.

She holds two doctorates, one in Christian Counseling and Wellness and the other in Transformational Leadership and Culture. She also holds an Education Specialist Degree in Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling.  The Rev Dr. Lena Crouso is an ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene and has served in global pastoral assignments for community development initiatives. She and her husband, Ken, live in Oklahoma.

CCCU Senior Fellows

 Dr. Stephen T. Beers  | John Brown University

Dr. Joel Carpenter, Ph.D.  | Calvin University

Dr. Carolyn Dirksen  | Lee University

Dr. Marshall Flowers Jr.  | Bluefield University

Dr. Karen A. Longman, Ph.D  | Azusa Pacific University

Dr. Pete C. Menjares, Ph.D.  | Seattle Pacific University

Dr. Linda Samek  | George Fox University

Dr. Mark L. Sargent  | Westmont College

Laurie A. Schreiner, Ph.D.  | Azusa Pacific University

Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D.  | Wheaton College

About CCCU

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of more than 185 Christian institutions around the world. Since 1976, the CCCU has served as the leading national voice of Christian higher education. With campuses across the globe, including more than 150 in the U.S. and Canada and more than 30 from an additional 19 countries, CCCU institutions are accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities whose missions are Christ- centered and rooted in the historic Christian faith. Most also have curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. The CCCU’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.

About Southern Nazarene University

Founded in 1899, Southern Nazarene University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university – a service of the Church of the Nazarene. Located on a 40-acre campus in the heart of Oklahoma City, SNU grew out of several small colleges committed to educating people for lives of service to God, leadership, and reconciliation toward their neighbors and within the global community. More than 32,000 alumni work and serve throughout the United States and the world.