CCCU Announces 2023-24 Presidential Fellows

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities today announced that Dr. Keith Hall (Azusa Pacific University), Dr. Ted Song (John Brown University) and Dr. Sarah Visser (Calvin University) have been selected as the first annual CCCU Presidential Fellows.  

The Presidential Fellowship Program is a new, year-long fellowship to prepare leaders to answer the call to the Christian college presidency. Each year, the CCCU will select 1-3 individuals for the fellowship who currently serve or have previously served as CCCU commissioners and who demonstrate exceptional strength of character, competence and leadership potential.  

“A wise, honest, and servant-hearted leader has the power to inspire learning, build connections and transform communities,” said Shirley Hoogstra, president of the CCCU. “Keith, Ted, and Sarah are already prominent leaders in their respective communities, and the CCCU is honored by their ‘yes’ to this opportunity.”  

Dr. Keith Hall serves as vice president for student belonging and chief diversity officer at Azusa Pacific University. Hall is a member of the President’s Cabinet and provides strategic leadership and oversight to the Athletics Department, the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Student Affairs. 

“I am thrilled with the selection of Dr. Keith Hall for the inaugural Presidential Fellows program with the CCCU,” said APU President Adam J. Morris. “Dr. Hall is a seasoned professional with a deep love for students and an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. He will thrive in this program and will continue to be used by God to advance the work of Christian higher education long into the future.” 

Dr. Ted Song is associate professor of electrical engineering, chief diversity officer and chief innovation officer at John Brown University. Song also serves as vice president of the Christian Engineering Society and Chair of the CCCU’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission. In addition, he is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is on the board of Lifewater International. 

“On behalf of the JBU community, I want to congratulate Dr. Ted Song for being named an inaugural CCCU Presidential Fellow,” said JBU President Chip Pollard. “We know of Ted’s excellence and faithfulness, not only to the mission here at JBU, but also to other institutions in the CCCU, and we are grateful for this opportunity for him to grow in his leadership.” 

Dr. Sarah Visser serves as executive vice president for student experience and strategy at Calvin University. She completed her Ph.D. in higher education at Claremont Graduate University. She has a passion for engaging scholarship and praxis related to social justice issues, with specializations in organizational culture and leadership. 

“Dr. Sarah Visser is a proven Christian higher education professional and exemplifies professional courage, professional expertise and professional kindness in all of her work,” said Calvin University President Wiebe Boer. “We heartily endorse the selection of Dr. Visser as an inaugural Presidential Fellow of the CCCU. We are so proud that she is on our team.” 

During the one-year fellowship program, Presidential Fellows will access numerous opportunities for professional development, leadership development and networking. Opportunities include: 

• attending board meetings of the CCCU Board of Directors, 
• serving on a board committee, 
• and attending the CCCU Presidents Conference in Washington, D.C. 

These leaders are experienced facilitators of the CCCU Leadership Development Institute and will continue to serve in that role as time allows. They are also able to shadow a college president as part of the year-long appointment.  

These opportunities provide the Presidential Fellows with unique access to executive-level decision-making, presidential networking and engagement with key issues affecting faith-based education at a national level.  

For more information about the CCCU’s Presidential Fellows Program, contact Chief Advancement Officer Jill Hartness at jhartness@cccu.org.  

About the 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 Azusa Pacific University 

Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution on the West Coast celebrating 125 years, equips students to become compassionate leaders who impact the world for Christ. With 71 bachelor’s degrees, 44 master’s degrees, 25 certificates, 8 credentials, and 9 doctoral programs, APU offers its more than 7,000 students a transformational education on campus, online, and at several regional locations throughout Southern California. Learn more at apu.edu. 

About Calvin University  

Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its 3,300 students from 48 U.S. states, 55 countries, and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at www.calvin.edu. 

About John Brown University 

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education. 

###