Office of the President
David Gyertson, Ph.D. has a broad background in higher education, publishing, consulting, executive coaching, ministry, and media. He holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University with a concentration in higher education administration, organizational & cross-cultural communications, and innovation/change theory. His undergraduate education (Spring Arbor University) is in Philosophy, Psychology & Religion. His Master鈥檚 degree work (Michigan State University and the University of Toronto) was done in counseling, communications, and international education. Dr. Gyertson was a founding team member of Regent University (VA) in 1977 and returned as President in 1990. He also served as President of 萝莉福利视频University (KY) and Taylor University (IN).
Dr. Gyertson has a storied history with 萝莉福利视频. He first joined during Dr. David McKenna鈥檚 presidency as Vice President for Advancement. He worked with Dr. McKenna to help establish the 萝莉福利视频 Foundation. He returned to the Seminary in 2015 as Associate Provost and Dean of the Beeson Center for Biblical Preaching and Church Leadership where he oversaw the Doctor of Ministry program and managed a Lilly Grant that focused on Women in Leadership, Church Planting and Hispanic Bi-Vocational Pastor support. He was appointed Distinguished Leader in Residence and retired from formal administrative responsibilities in 2022. He is now Affiliate Professor of Leadership Formation and Renewal at Asbury.
Dr. Gyertson has substantial experience in other areas of higher education at various institutions as a faculty member, board member, and administrator. He served as a member of the Board of Biola University chairing the Academic Affairs committee. He has been a faculty member at several institutions including 萝莉福利视频 and Taylor University. He was tenured at Regent University and served as the Bredesen Professor of Leadership Formation and Renewal in the Schools of Leadership and Business as well as Education teaching leadership theory and practice as well as supervising dissertations in their respective Doctoral programs.
Aside from higher education, Dr. Gyertson has extensive leadership experience domestically and internationally with nonprofit organizations, accreditation organizations, charitable trusts, and publishing. Currently, he is a leadership succession facilitator, executive coach, and governance facilitator to faith-based organizations. He specializes in onboarding new Presidents and Board Chairs, governance training, transition planning, and special projects implementation. His executive coaching clients include University Presidents, Senior Executives of Foundations, nonprofit think tanks, and several charitable organizations including community hospitals, The Salvation Army, churches, denominations, and the entertainment/media industry. He continues his research in Leadership Formation and Board Governance as a member of the Board Governance Facilitator Team for ABHE, funded by the Murdock Trust. He recently accepted an appointment as a Board Governance Researcher for the new InTrust Center Seminary governance enhancement project funded by the Lilly Endowment. He currently assists with webinars and workshops for the Association of Biblical Higher Education and the InTrust Center for Theological Education.
Dr. Gyertson is an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church having served senior pastoral positions in Methodist and Presbyterian settings. He conducts retreats in areas of spiritual formation for leaders desiring to grow personally and professionally as committed followers of Jesus Christ. He has delivered numerous lectures, workshops and seminars and published several articles on a variety of topics related to Christian thought and practice. He has assisted organizations and executive leaders to improve operational effectiveness and deepen their sense of calling to advance God鈥檚 purposes in this generation.
Dr. Gyertson and his wife Nancy, a retired elementary school teacher, live in Wilmore, Kentucky. Their daughter Andrea, and her husband Brady, are graduates of 萝莉福利视频University. The Gyertsons have a granddaughter working in the film industry and a grandson preparing for his freshmen year of college.