����ɬ celebrated the Class of 2026 at Saturday’s commencement ceremony.��

The newest Houghton alumni gathered one final time as students for the commencement ceremony on May 9 before embarking on their journey as fearless scholar-servants, equipped to transform the world for God’s glory. Already, 70% have determined their next steps. Some will immediately enter their chosen careers while others will continue their education in graduate programs.*

As our graduates departed, Professor Ryan Cooley shared this benediction, “To our 2026 graduates, as you leave Houghton, may God bless your minds to seek and recognize truth. May He bless your imaginations to create what is good and beautiful, and give you the courage to pursue what is right even when it is costly,” remarked Professor Ryan Cooley. “Go then, not simply as graduates, but as His works of art, created by Christ, walking in humility, serving with joy, and trusting that God goes before you in every place He sends you.”

We are honored to send forth another class of Houghton graduates; scholar-servants who are well-prepared to be fearless and faithful ambassadors for Christ in the various fields and places God has called them to.

Thank You!

Over a 24-hour period on April 17, ����ɬ received $2,416,964 in gifts and pledges from 2,229 supporters on its annual One Day Giving Challenge. These gifts will support Houghton’s Scholar-Servant Fund, endowment growth, capital projects, and academic and co-curricular student experiences.

“We are privileged to equip students for the work and the places to which the Lord is calling them,” said President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. “For some, that calling is to ordained ministry or missions. For many others, it’s carrying out the Great Commission as lay men and women in their workplaces and communities-marketplace multipliers. The students, alumni, employees, family and friends of Houghton who have so generously supported our mission today are our partners in making sure Houghton’s mission of equipping fearless Christian scholar-servants continues for many generations to come.��I am thankful for our many friends and supporters and for God’s continued provision for Houghton through them.”

����ɬ is pleased to announce that Carrie J. Whitcher, Chief Quality Officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Insurance Services Division, has been selected as the commencement speaker for the class of 2026.

����ɬ’s Alumni Christian Service Award is presented to those who have held to the ideals of the Christian faith and who have made a significant impact for the Lord through self-sacrifice to the Church, their communities, and/or their professions.

Self-sacrificing is a truly apt description for one of this year’s recipients. It’s a story that begins at Houghton Academy, barrels down the Houghton College football field, flourishes in Sierra Leone, and continues to impact the lives—and vision—of people from California to Mexico to Zambia and beyond.

James “Bud” Tysinger, a member of the Class of 1965, was a multi-sport athlete at Houghton during the Purple and Gold era, demonstrating abilities in football, basketball, and track and field. In October 1963, the Houghton STAR reported the following about Bud: “He has a way of holding a team together under any conditions.” This particular characteristic would no doubt play an important part in his life as a medical missionary, business owner, and founder of a charitable organization.

At Houghton, Bud didn’t just lead on the sports pitch. He served in student body leadership for all four of his years on campus, as class president in both his freshman and sophomore years, as study body chaplain his junior year, and as student body president in his senior year. Sometime between his roles in student government and his competition in the sports arena, Bud found time to complete a degree in zoology.

After completing medical school at the Medical College of South Carolina, Bud took a trip that became a turning point in his life. In 1970, Bud joined a medical missions team on a trip to Sierra Leone living nearly three years there with his family working as a doctor at the hospital founded by the Wesleyan Church in Kamakwie. On that trip, Bud worked alongside an ophthalmologist providing vision care. He developed a passion for serving people in developing countries and saw ophthalmology, particularly cataract surgery, as an ideal way to serve, while also maintaining a home and practice in the United States. He pursued eye training at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and additional training at University of California, San Francisco.

For over 20 years, Bud embarked on medical missions trips to Sierra Lone as well as rural Mexico, providing vision care to those who otherwise would have no access to it. In 1994, civil unrest brought an end to his work in Sierra Leone, but that year, Bud partnered with fellow doctors to create the nonprofit International Vision Volunteers, which is dedicated to bringing sight and eye care to underserved communities.

Beginning in 1995, through International Vision Volunteers, Bud took his medical missions work to Zambia in south central Africa, opening an eye hospital—Zimba Mission Hospital—in 2001. Today, the hospital is staffed by five teams of care providers, each serving two weeks annually.

Bud’s son, James Tysinger III, Houghton Class of 1988, remarked, “I have no idea how many doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists and other professionals have gone to serve in Mexico, Sierra Leone and Zambia that might never have done so had my dad not made the effort to invite them to serve.”

In the challenging conditions medical missionaries face in remote, rural and impoverished communities, Bud retained and employed the characteristics of that young fellow on the Houghton football field who could hold a team together under any circumstances.

Bud’s nephew, Dr. Jonathan Vogan, Houghton Class of 1985, was one of those professionals attracted to medical missionary work and had the opportunity to work alongside Bud in Sierra Leone. “God used conversations with my Uncle Bud about serving God in the medical profession. My uncle’s life in Christian service was powerfully used by God to direct my own service to God in the medical profession, including many medical mission trips.”

Today, some patients travel hundreds of miles to the Zambian clinic from neighboring Botswana and Zimbabwe. Hundreds of surgeries are performed annually, and thousands of patients receive care. The clinic also provides training for ophthalmology residents, clinical officers and nurses in eye care, some of whom go on to continue to serve with International Vision Volunteers.

Bud’s commitment to providing exceptional vision care isn’t limited to his international patients. In 1979, Bud founded a California Eye Clinic in Antioch, California, where he used his gifts and abilities to provide patient-centered care to his community. He provided vision care throughout his region until retiring in 2002. Today, California Eye Clinic has five locations with two ophthalmologists and five optometrists.

“His heart was to serve,” noted James, who is with us this evening to surprise his father. “He supported many missionaries and sponsored and supported students from Africa to get the education they needed to go back and serve others in their home countries. As his son, I was privy to many acts of service and sacrifice that were never public.”

As the son of a pastor and a teacher, with a family legacy of ministry, education and missionary work, Bud followed the examples set before him.�� When asked why he wanted to serve as a missionary, he replied “I just felt called to serve with the gifts I’ve been given.”

In recognition of nearly 50 years of service and sacrifice, for the thousands of lives impacted by vision care, and for his tireless dedication to Kingdom work in some of the world’s neediest places, it is my privilege to present James “Bud” Tysinger with ����ɬ’s Alumni Christian Service Award.

Houghton, NY – During its Homecoming and Family Weekend (October 3-5, 2025), ����ɬ honored four prestigious alumni with awards recognizing their outstanding contributions to their professions, their communities, their alma mater and the Church. The awards were presented during the annual Legacy Chapel on Friday, October 3 by ����ɬ President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. honored Mr. David Smith ’73, Ms. Joanna Sudlow ’15, Mr. Dean Liddick ’60 and Mr. Derrick Tennant ’93.

Mr. David Smith was named ����ɬ Alumnus of the Year, which was presented posthumously to his wife Mrs. Cindy (Dunham ’73) Smith. Mr. Smith was recognized for his lifetime of service to IBM, a career which spanned nearly forty years, during which time he was recognized with numerous employee awards. After retirement, Mr. Smith served Houghton as Vice President for Finance and Planning under President Emerita Dr. Shirley A. Mullen ’76. Mr. Smith was noted for his dedication, his servant-leadership, and his commitment to excellence.

Ms. Joanna Sudlow was named Young Alumna of the Year, recognizing her work as Lead Animal Trainer with Sight and Sound Theatres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Over the past decade, Ms. Sudlow has trained hundreds of animals for stage and film productions, including the theatre’s current sold-out show Noah, which features over 140 animals. Her work has been a vital part of Sight and Sound’s ability to carry out its mission to spread the truth of the Gospel through drama, reaching over 1.5 million audience members annually.

Mr. Dean Liddick, a long-time Houghton resident and former college employee, was presented with the 2025 Alumni Appreciation Award. In the twenty-five years since his retirement, Mr. Liddick has served in many unrecognized roles, as ghostwriter, advisor, consultant, and unofficial historian. The founder and long-time editor of Houghton’s alumni magazine, Mr. Liddick has been a vital source of information for four different published works of Houghton history, including most recently Dr. Jack Connell’s ’83 book Heartbreak and Hope: The Story of the Houghton Six.

Mr. Derrick Tennant was presented with the FEARLESS Award, recognizing his lifetime dedication to overcoming challenges, and the work he does to inspire others to do the same. Mr. Tennant is a widely respected corporate speaker, stand-up comedian, and advocate for those with Down’s Syndrome and those with traumatic brain injuries. His speaking and comedy career has taken him around the world, spreading messages of hope and perseverance in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

For full award citations for each of the award winners, please visit houghton.edu/alumni-awards.

What defines an alumnus of the year? A ����ɬ Alumnus of the Year, beyond any other criteria, must have demonstrated a firm commitment to Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom. He must have made a significant contribution to his profession or vocation, and made a noteworthy service to society. At its core, to be recognized as the Alumnus of the Year, one must have lived out his calling as a scholar-servant. David Smith, a graduate of the ����ɬ Class of 1973, most fittingly, was once described as “the epitome of a scholar-servant.”

A general science major at Houghton, David went on to a thirty-nine year career with IBM. Twenty of those years David dedicated to executive leadership, holding positions in operations, information technology, logistics and manufacturing. His experience and responsibilities ranged widely, including sales, finance, risk management, project management, business operations, customer relations management, management information systems and new product development.

David filled these roles with excellence, making a significant contribution at IBM, evidenced by recognition with awards such as the IBM Leadership Award, the IBM Market Driven Quality Award, and the IBM Award of Excellence. He completed IBM’s Advanced Management School and the IBM Manufacturing Business Development Program at Dartmouth University. David excelled in his vocational calling and IBM and his colleagues were the better for it.

Upon retirement in 2012, David didn’t rest upon his laurels. Instead, he elected to give back to his alma mater in the most useful way possible. David assumed the mantle of Houghton’s Vice President for Finance and Planning, a role he filled for three years under the leadership of President Emerita, Dr. Shirley Mullen. The Houghton community is full of people who worked alongside David and who were blessed by doing so. David was the consummate team player, an attribute he no doubt developed during his time as a dual sport student-athlete at Houghton, cultivating his skills on the baseball field and the basketball court.

We humans have many phrases about animals used to express our frustrations with the chaos of life. “It’s like herding cats,” we say. Or we take a step back and proclaim “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” We might try to “take the bull by the horns” or convince someone to “hold their horses.”

If you’re Joanna Sudlow, a member of the Class of 2015, herding cats and holding horses is just another day on the job. Joanna is the Lead Animal Trainer for Sight & Sound Theatres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and while there is no circus, and no monkeys, Joanna has demonstrated her remarkable skills managing animals—and people—for theatre productions that draw over 1.5 million audience members each year.

Joanna’s Houghton story began in 2011, when she arrived on campus as a first-year student eager to grow as a young equestrian. She was active on campus as a member of the Houghton Equestrian Club and equestrian center chore crew, as well as the Society of Human Resource Management student chapter. Joanna shared her learning with others as a TA for Horsemanship-1 and as a counselor at summer equestrian camps. She spent a spring studying abroad in Leiden, The Netherlands, and completed two internships.

Joanna graduated with dual degrees in Equestrian Management and Business Administration. The Salutatorian of the Class of 2015, Joanna was inducted into the Equestrian Wall of Honor and was named 2015 Houghton College Business Student of the Year. Business Professor Emeritus Ken Bates remarked, “Joanna simply excelled at modeling fearless servant-leadership with an unselfish maturity of someone twice her age. Her bright, inquisitive, and pleasant demeanor set the tone for remarkable communication abilities in class. Her problem-solving abilities often prompted her classmates to simply step aside and allow her to excel.”

After graduation, Joanna didn’t follow the career path she’d imagined for herself, having realized during her internships that small business ownership and traditional office work wasn’t the right fit. Instead, Joanna accepted a position with Sight & Sound Theatre as an animal trainer. For over 30 years, Sight & Sound Theatre has brought stories from Scripture and from history to life in both live stage productions and film productions, which they do through two theatres, an online streaming platform and a film studio. In 2022, Joanna was promoted to the role of Lead Animal Trainer and has worked with a wonderful wide range of animals, including birds, cats, rabbits, skunks, dogs, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, alpacas, donkeys, horses, cattle and camels. She also trained and rode horses for two of Sight & Sound’s film productions.

Derrick Tennant, a member of the Class of 1993, began his FEARLESS journey long before his Houghton story began. At the age of 14, Derrick was a gifted multi-sport athlete on the verge of beginning his high school athletic career. The night before starting high school football practice, Derrick laid down for a nap and didn’t wake up for three days. Paralyzed and in a coma, Derrick underwent emergency brain surgery, which saved his life but ultimately left him unable to move his left side. For anyone, the years of therapy alone would require daily acts of FEARLESS faith in a faithful God.

Derrick could have stopped there—he would have inspired all of us simply by persisting through the challenges brought by everyday life. But Derrick wasn’t satisfied to simply accept his limitations and proceed to make his life as “normal” as possible. Derrick finished high school and set off for college. At Houghton, Derrick majored in communication and paired his classroom learning with hands-on experience as a Phonathon caller, class officer and—perhaps most memorably—SPOT host.

An alumni update published in a 1997 edition of Houghton’s alumni magazine reported on Derrick’s work with urban youth in LA through Center for Student Missions, as a corporate trainer for Discovery Zone, Inc., and as public relations director and defensive coordinator for a semi-pro football team. Oh… it also mentioned that he’d played basketball internationally in both the Philippines and Mexico. What the note didn’t say was that Derrick still had the use of only his right hand.

In 2001, Derrick was ready to fearlessly follow God’s calling on his life by combining the things he’d learned through perseverance in the face of tragedy, the education he received at Houghton, and the experiences of his early career to launch his own business as a motivational speaker and comedian. Derrick’s many ventures include 14 Sleeves, named for his iconic wardrobe of only seven shirts (one for each day of the week; yes, they’re labeled); BleepFree Comedy (which is, indeed, bleep free, for which we are all grateful); and partnership with his sister, Julie, both as a public speaker with her through The Love Chromosome and in her business Julie’s Cool Shirts.

Institutional memory is one of an organization’s most valuable assets. It reminds us of the ways God has worked in the past, offers the wisdom of hindsight, and provides helpful guidance for the future. Dean Liddick, a graduate of the Houghton College class of 1960, is the walking embodiment of Houghton’s institutional memory. If you have a question about Houghton history, Dean is your man.

To live as the keeper of institutional memory is a calling, one that doesn’t stop when one changes jobs or retires. In the twenty-five years since Dean took up the mantel of retirement, he has continued to serve as a writer, ghostwriter, editor, sounding board, historian and font of wisdom for the ����ɬ community.

Dean Liddick grew up a missionary kid in India. At Houghton, he pursued a degree in history with a minor in English. He was a campus leader with Foreign Mission Fellowship (FMF) and had his own radio show with WJSL. During his time at Houghton, Dean met his wife, Carmen VanderVeen, also a member of the Class of 1960. Dean worked at the college press alongside press operator Al Smith and had the distinction of being the first student to operate the college press.

Life after college took Dean first to Indiana, where he worked as a pressman and a journalist; and then to Fort Dix, New Jersey, by way of Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and MP School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. After service with the Military Police, Dean was appointed Houghton College Director of Public Information in 1964. This role became a lifetime of service to Dean’s alma mater.

Dean is the creator of Houghton’s alumni magazine, originally known as Milieu and today known as Houghton Magazine.

HOUGHTON, NY — September 18, 2025— ����ɬ begins its 2025-2026 academic year with a celebration of its third consecutive year of overall enrollment growth and an extraordinary first-year retention rate. The University’s first-year retention rate rose to 90%, markedly higher than the . University leaders credit Houghton’s retention to the holistic approach that the campus community provides in supporting students not just academically, but also spiritually and emotionally.

“This is more than a statistic. First, more and more students are choosing well. Students and families know who we are and what a Houghton experience can provide. At Houghton, they know they will get an intentionally Christian, academically rigorous and engaging university experience. But also, the numbers are a reflection of a campus culture centered on student success and excellence,” said President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. “Our comprehensive support system supports students and enables them to thrive.”

Integrating academic, wellness, athletics, and student life into a unified approach, Houghton aims to provide every student on campus with a sense of belonging as they grow within its Christ-centered community. The goal is not to just retain students, but to help them flourish. Growth was particularly evident in the Biology Pre-Health, Business Administration, and Education areas.

Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., President of ����ɬ, presented Dr. James “Bud” Tysinger, Jr. with the Alumni Christian Service Award to celebrate his lifelong commitment to medical missions during the 2025 Summer Alumni Reunion on August 2. The award recognizes Dr. Tysinger’s five decades of service providing vision care to impoverished communities in Sierra Leone, Zambia and rural Mexico.

Dr. Tysinger’s work in medical missions began in 1970 with a trip to Sierra Leone, where he spent three years as a doctor at the hospital founded by the Wesleyan Church in Kamakwie. He developed a passion for ophthalmology and spent the next twenty years travelling to Sierra Leone and Africa, while also maintaining a vision care practice in California.

In 1995, Dr. Tysinger partnered with a colleague to found the nonprofit organization International Vision Volunteers in an effort to bring vision care to those who otherwise could not access it. Through International Vision Volunteers, Dr. Tysinger opened Zimba Mission Hospital in 2001. The hospital is staffed by five teams of care providers, each serving two weeks annually. Today, hundreds of eye surgeries are performed annually, and thousands of patients from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana receive care, at Zimba Mission Hospital. The hospital also provides training for ophthalmology residents, clinical officers and nurses in eye care, some of whom go on to continue serving with International Vision Volunteers.

In addition to his work in medical missions, Dr. Tysinger founded California Eye Clinic in Antioch, California. He retired in 2002 after over twenty years of service.

����ɬ’s Alumni Christian Service Award is presented to those who have held to the ideals of the Christian faith and who have made a significant impact for the Lord through self-sacrifice to the Church, their communities, and/or their professions.

Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., President of ����ɬ, presented Paul ’74 and Cristina (Todeschini ’75) Eckhoff with the Alumni Christian Service Award, celebrating their lifetime of service and leadership in medical missions, during the Class of 1975’s Golden Highlanders 50th Reunion on May 10, 2025. The award recognizes the Eckhoffs’ lifetime of extraordinary and selfless service as they have worked to advance the Kingdom of God in regions of the world where it is often difficult to share the Gospel.

Drs. Paul and Cristina Eckhoff have served in some of the world’s most disadvantaged countries. Through the organization Crossworld, they provided medical care and training for eighteen years at Beraca Medical Center in northern Haiti. Paul, a family medical practitioner, and Cristina, a pediatrician, then led a team of missionaries in Central Asia not only continuing medical training but also supporting microfinancing efforts, sanitation projects and other development projects. After a decade in Central Asia, the couple joined a leadership team with Crossworld overseeing fieldworkers serving throughout West Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as ministering to Muslim immigrant populations in Europe and North America.

Join in remembrance and reflection as the ����ɬ community honors the extraordinary lives and lasting impact of Dr. Daniel Chamberlain and Joyce Books Chamberlain. This special chapel service from March 17, 2025 features remarks from Provost Dr. David Davies ’01, Professor of Communication Dr. Douglas Gaerte, and President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr.

Dr. Chamberlain passed away on May 31, 2024, and Mrs. Chamberlain on December 22, 2024. Their combined legacy of faith-filled leadership and service continues to shape our Christ-centered academic community. Tribute gifts can be made in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Chamberlain and will be used for renovations and updates to the Daniel R. and Joyce F. Chamberlain Center at ����ɬ or to the Dan and Joyce Chamberlain Endowed Scholarship Fund.

����ɬ celebrated the Class of 2025 at Saturday’s commencement ceremony.��

The newest Houghton alumni gathered one final time as students for a sunlit before embarking on their journey as fearless scholar-servants, equipped to transform the world for God’s glory. Already, 68% have secured their next steps, including launching their careers or continuing their education in graduate programs.*

“Today we send forth another class of Houghton graduates; scholar-servants who are well-prepared to be fearless and faithful ambassadors for Christ in the various fields and places God has called them to,” remarked President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. “For many generations, Houghton graduates have had transformative impact in the Church, in their professions, and in the communities they serve. Houghton’s Class of 2025 will be no different. I am extraordinarily proud of them.”

Thank You!

Over a 24-hour period on April 11, ����ɬ received $2,225,920 in gifts and pledges  from 2,177 supporters on its annual One Day Giving Challenge. These gifts will support student scholarships, endowment growth, capital projects, and academic and co-curricular student experiences.

“For more than 140 years, Houghton has been steadfast in providing an intentional Christ-centered, academically challenging educational experience for students,” reflected President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. “Today, we continue the work to equip faithful Christian scholar-servants for leadership and service in diverse fields and contexts. The many alumni, students, employees, family and friends of Houghton who have so generously supported our mission today play an integral role in ensuring Houghton remains grounded in our Christian faith, meets the needs of today’s students, and that a Houghton education is available to students for many generations to come. We are thankful for God’s continued provision and for all of those who supported Houghton today and throughout the year.”

This year’s Houghton Choir tour concert is titled Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad!, a program celebrating God’s good gifts of prayer, eternity, redemption, and rest. Listeners will experience a range of styles and languages from historical composers such as Purcell and Stanford, as well as contemporary composers such as Moses Hogan and J. Aaron McDermid. Join us as The Houghton Choir guides the audience through a rich experience of celebration, reflection, and worship.

Concert Schedule

����ɬ is pleased to announce that Dr. Andrew Westmoreland, president of the and distinguished leader in Christian higher education, has been selected as the commencement speaker for the class of 2025.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Westmoreland as our commencement speaker,” said Wayne D. Lewis Jr., President of ����ɬ. “His forty-year dedication to Christian higher education and depth of leadership experience make him uniquely qualified to address and inspire our graduates. It is a personal privilege for me to welcome Andy as our commencement speaker as he is a trusted mentor and friend, whose counsel and insights I appreciate and value highly.”

Westmoreland brings extensive experience in Christian higher education leadership, having served as president of both Ouachita Baptist University and Samford University for a combined 23 years. His commitment to academic excellence and Christian values aligns perfectly with Houghton’s mission of equipping students as scholar-servants in a changing world.

Currently serving as president of the Christian College Consortium, of which Houghton has been a founding member since 1971, and executive director of the Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership, Westmoreland continues to shape the landscape of Christian higher education. His other leadership roles have included serving as senior vice president for higher education at Faith Search Partners, chairing the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, overseeing accreditation for more than 800 institutions and serving as president of the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The commencement ceremony will celebrate the achievements of Houghton’s Class of 2025 on May 10, 2025.

����ɬ is expanding pathways to the classroom with a new fully online Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Adolescent Education program. Designed for career-changers and recent graduates with a bachelor’s degree in a variety of K-12 subject areas, this flexible program enables professionals to earn New York State teaching certification while continuing their professional work. As schools today face unprecedented challenges and teacher shortages, the M.A.T. degree strengthens Houghton’s commitment to preparing Christian educators and is further supported by a recent transformative $3 million gift to establish the Ellen F. Donley Dean of Education and Behavioral Science.

Program Overview

����ɬ announced a $3M gift to create an endowed chair that will be known as the Ellen F. Donley Dean of Education and Behavioral Science. This anonymous gift creates an endowed fund to provide vital resources in perpetuity to support this faculty position.

The deanship honors the life and legacy of Ellen F. Donley, a Houghton alumna from the Class of 1938. Miss Donley (1917-1964) was one of four sisters whose parents had an unusual interest in providing opportunities for spiritual and educational growth. They provided persistent guidance and sacrificial support so that each daughter could attend and graduate from Houghton College (now University). In the words of the donor, “Ellen’s life was an example of a well-rounded life of Christian love, faith, discipline, and commitment to education and serves as an example of the impact that can be made while at Houghton and in the many schools where educators touch lives.”

Christmas Prism concert-goers will witness an exciting premiere next month at ����ɬ as Provost David Davies ’01, D.M.A., debuts his new arrangement of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” The piece, commissioned specifically for this year’s performances, will combine all university choirs and orchestra, featuring nearly 200 student musicians.

The Ortlip Gallery celebrates Ian Campbell’s photography exhibition, After Birds, with an opening reception Friday, October 25th, at 6:30-8:00 pm in the Center for the Arts at ����ɬ. Open to the public, the event includes refreshments, live music, and an artist talk at 7pm.

Ian Campbell is an artist and photographer based in Western New York State. He holds an MFA in Photography & Integrated Media from Ohio University and a BA from Wheaton College, Illinois. Ian has shown his work in galleries, film festivals, publications, and conferences throughout the U.S. From 2016-2021, Ian served as Assistant Professor of Art at Lyon College, where he taught a wide range of courses in photography, digital art, drawing, and art history. In 2022, Ian relocated to Houghton, NY, where he maintains an active studio art practice as well as being a stay-at-home Dad and freelance commercial photographer.

After Birds is an interdisciplinary endeavor drawing on themes from conservation biology but expressed through the medium of art. The exhibit is a series of infrared photographs of the habitats of extinct, endangered or disappearing species of American birds that Campbell travelled to and explored. Venturing from Rhode Island to Arkansas and Maine to Texas, Campbell drew inspiration from John James Audubon’s famous book, Birds of America. Accompanying each of Campbell’s striking photographs is an illustration by Audubon. Campbell explains, “My images are a response to John James Audubon’s landmark suite of bird paintings. Each of my photos is inspired by and builds upon an Audubon illustration, borrowing details of composition and design to create a dialog between past, present, and future. Yet the birds themselves are conspicuously absent from my photographs.”

Campbell’s exhibit in the Ortlip Gallery is a portal into what feels like a different dimension—serene and stark; peaceful, yet thought-provoking, familiar but somehow foreign in its dearth of avian life. The tranquil dark blue walls of the gallery bedecked in juxtaposed modern black-and-white photography and early 19th century detailed paintings, prompt contemplation of how human choices can harm other species. According to Campbell’s artist statement, a recent study published in the journal Science found that the North American bird population has dropped by 3 billion birds, or 29%, since the 1970’s. He attributes this to complex interconnected issues including habitat loss, pollution, poaching, invasive species, climate change, and other factors. Originally planning to document only the habitats of endangered birds, Campbell expanded the project to include common species in steep decline after reading Matt William’s book “Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest.”

Campbell’s hope is that, “After Birds will inspire viewers to seek their own connections with the natural world. This project is a meditation on loss, but it is also an invitation to learn from past failures, take note of conservation success stories, and make every effort to preserve our birds and their habitats.”

After Birds will be on display in the Ortlip Gallery through December 13, 2024. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 9am-6pm.

����ɬ has announced a 30% tuition reduction for its fully online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, effective January 2025. This move, along with a streamlined admissions process, reinforces the University’s commitment to making graduate business education a possibility for more professionals from a variety of disciplines.

“Houghton is serious about graduate business education. Current and emerging leaders in the for-profit and non-profit sectors interested in pursuing an MBA at a Christian university should give us fresh consideration,” said Houghton President, Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. “Our affordability, flexibility and dynamic faculty make the Houghton MBA a great option for working professionals. Houghton MBA graduates complete their programs well-prepared to have even greater positive impact and influence in their professions. This tuition reduction is about empowering professionals to transform their careers, their industries, and ultimately, the world.”

By Peter Meilaender, Professor of Political Science; Dean of Religion, Humanities and Global Studies; and Director of the Kindschi Faith and Justice Symposium

In the fall of 1960, a gifted mathematician with a penchant for philosophy arrived at Houghton College as a transfer student. It took Doug Kindschi, Class of 1962, no time at all to establish himself as one of Houghton’s best and brightest. He joined the debate team – and was a two-time trophy winner. He ran for student senate and was elected vice-president, no doubt thanks to his campaign’s successful serenading of the women of East Hall with Good morning from Kindschi sung to the tune of ‘Happy Birthday.’ Doug’s academic accomplishments were impressive: he was selected to attend a federal service seminar in Washington, D.C., based on his academic achievements, and he was the recipient of not one but two graduate fellowships. He was forced to turn down the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in favor of the National Science Foundation Fellowship for Graduate Study.

For all his success in the classroom, it was perhaps a moment in the dining hall of Gaodayeo that led to Doug’s greatest Houghton success: meeting his wife, Barbara Pechuman. Barbara, also a transfer student, was a Bible major with a minor in music.

After leaving Houghton, both Doug and Barbara pursued further education. Doug worked on a Master of Divinity degree at the Chicago School of Theology before completing an MA and a PhD in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Barbara completed a music degree from Springfield College in Massachusetts. Upon completion of his degrees, Doug took a teaching position at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, where he taught both mathematics and philosophy. During his 45-year career at Grand Valley State, he served for 25 years as dean of Science and Mathematics.

Grand Valley State University today has fourteen academic programs in its science and mathematics department that are the direct result of Dr. Kindschi’s work, including the College of Health Professionals, the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, and the Annis Water Resources Institute. He was a major proponent of outreach to K-12 students, establishing the Coalition for Excellence in Science and Math Education, the Regional Math and Science Center, and bringing Science Olympiad tournaments to Grand Valley’s campus.

Doug never strayed far from his love of philosophy and theology, and in 2010 he had the opportunity to put that love to good use when he was appointed the founding director of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley State University. As Doug seeks to live out his calling as a follower of Christ, reaching out to and engaging with others, he has used his work at the Kaufman Interfaith Institute to live out our Lord’s two greatest commandments: love God, and love your neighbors. Since 2010, Doug has led significant programming focused on interfaith dialogue, bringing together Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities to focus on common goals and interfaith cooperation. As part of his work, Dr. Kindschi has also been a visiting fellow with the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme at Cambridge University in England.

Barbara has been a constant and invaluable partner in the sixty-two years that the Kindschis have been married. She was a dedicated homemaker, raising two biological children and two adopted children, while teaching piano lessons, singing in choirs, volunteering in the university’s greenhouse, and serving as a church deacon. Barbara’s dedication to music in her community led her to help secure Grand Valley State University’s carillon, which she sometimes takes the opportunity to play.

Together, Doug and Barbara have led lives dedicated to giving back to their communities. Grand Valley State University has buildings and programs named to honor the Kindschis for their ongoing generosity and life-long impact on their campus. ����ɬ, too, has been the recipient of their commitment to philanthropy. In 2017, the couple endowed Houghton’s annual Kindschi Faith and Justice Symposium, ensuring that our campus community has the opportunity to probe matters of justice from a distinctively Wesleyan point of view. The Kindschis have also endowed the David E. Kindschi Travel Fund at Houghton, which provides financial resources to support student travel and enhance educational outcomes for students in global studies and related programs.

I first had the opportunity to meet Doug and Barbara about a year and a half ago, after being asked to take on leadership of the Faith & Justice Symposium.�� I was struck not only by their desire to help us pursue important and challenging topics here at Houghton, but also by their palpable interest in the lives of our students and in supporting those students’ intellectual and spiritual development.�� Some of you in today’s audience had the opportunity last year to attend symposium events dealing with international order and justice in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian War; others have already been participating in small group discussions this fall leading up to what is sure to be a memorable symposium on the theme of “Civility” in the first week of November, coinciding with the presidential election.�� Events such as these are a tremendous enrichment of the university’s academic life, and we owe them entirely to Doug and Barbara’s generosity.

Dr. Kindschi is also generous with his time and leadership skills. He is a well-known member of the Grand Rapids, Michigan, community, serving on boards of the Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center, the Porter Hills Retirement Communities and Services, the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, the Van Andel Education Institute Council, and the Advisory Board for the DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy. He was the founding chair of the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Advisory Board and a founding member and chair of the Science Support Advisory Board for the Raytheon Polar Services Corporation program in Antarctica. He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.

Together, the Kindschis have sought to live out the great commandments, advancing Christ’s Kingdom through their noteworthy contributions to interfaith dialogue, their investment in learning on topics of faith and justice, and their dedication to the students of both Grand Valley State University and ����ɬ. For their remarkable impact as scholar-servants over the course of their lives, they are richly deserving recipients of ����ɬ’s 2024 Alumni of the Year Award.

By Dr. Daniel Steele ’02, alumnus and long-time friend

In the winter of 1979, a Houghton College freshman boldly walked into the Willard J. Houghton Library, grabbed the list of America’s one hundred most successful men and started handwriting them letters.

Unable to meet the ongoing financial obligations, James “Jamie” Rogan had exhausted all other payment options. Sending out 100 letters asking for financial support to finish his education, Jamie leaned fearlessly into the goodness of God, trusting that someone, somewhere, would give him a helping hand.

This kind of boldness is frightening and unfamiliar to most of us, but it paid off for Jamie Rogan. When he returned to campus in the spring, he still didn’t know how he was going to pay for school. He then learned that his letter-writing had paid off. A stranger who didn’t know Jamie, but did know of Houghton College, offered to annually pay whatever remained of Jamie’s bill. Through God’s provision and the help of a stranger, Jamie completed a degree in biology with minors in chemistry and psychology, graduating with the Houghton College Class of 1983.

Jamie attended Georgetown University School of Medicine where he attained his MD, and he went on to become a doctor in a private practice in rural Indiana. Dr. Rogan never forgot the kindness and generosity of his benefactor and he committed himself to paying it forward. Dr. Rogan could have easily satisfied himself with donating scholarship funds or accepting interns in his private practice, but Dr. Rogan isn’t one to take the easy way out of a commitment. In the 1990s, Dr. Rogan was put in touch with a troubled young man named Danny – me. I was in desperate need of an exit from a very dangerous lifestyle and in need of a mentor to see him back on a safer, healthier path. Dr. Rogan offered both. I lived with Dr. Rogan on his farm through my high school years. I elected to attend Houghton and came to Christ while a student. Dr. Rogan continued to mentor me through college and helped me finance my education. I graduated with a bachelor’s of science in biology and minors in psychology and Bible. After completing medical school at the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, I became an emergency medicine physician in New Hampshire while also pursuing medical missions work around the world.

Dr. Rogan’s brand of fearless compassion and generosity didn’t stop with me. In 2018, another young man was inspired by Dr. Rogan to attend Houghton. Malachi Yaeger, a graduate of the Class of 2022, approached Dr. Rogan for a letter of recommendation while applying to Houghton. When asked why he wanted to attend, Malachi responded, “Dr. Rogan, I want to grow up to be like you. You said Houghton had a significant influence on you, so that’s where I want to go.” Throughout Malachi’s studies, he kept in touch with Dr. Rogan, interning and shadowing at Dr. Rogan’s practice in Indiana, not only learning how to care for patients, but also delving into the business side of medicine to learn the complexities of things like billing and health insurance. After completing his degree in biology with a minor in chemistry, Malachi was accepted to the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he is currently pursuing his MD.

Dr. Rogan had offered Malachi a low-interest personal loan to help him pay for his studies at Houghton. After four years of observing Malachi’s dedication and hard work, Dr. Rogan wrote off the debt, ensuring Malachi went into medical school without any school loans.

Dr. Rogan’s fearless support of hurting, troubled and disadvantaged young men reached well beyond Malachi and me. Over the years, he’s supported last-dollar scholarships for students who couldn’t afford a Houghton education. Since the 1990s, when he began learning about reactive attachment disorder amongst orphans, he has fostered 26 young men on his farm, one of whom he adopted.

This kind of fearlessness doesn’t grow in a vacuum. Dr. Rogan reflects on the impact of Houghton giants such as Professor Gordon Stockin, Professor Fred Trexler ’64 and our late president, Dr. Daniel Chamberlain. He describes them as solid men of God, faithful and intelligent, compassionate and genuine. Dr. Rogan also shares about the impact on his life of the young men he’s mentored, who held him to a high standard and required him to live a life that set them a good example.

Dr. Rogan has come a long way from what he describes as “the poor boy who couldn’t afford pizza” to the compassionate, generous, fearless man of God he is today. Houghton’s FEARLESS Award is presented to one whose life journey and testimony clearly represent what it means to be a fearless follower of Jesus Christ, displaying the fruit of the Spirit and expressing supreme confidence in the power of God to overcome challenges and adversity. Dr. Rogan, in honor of your fearless dedication to mentoring young men and your fearless generosity in supporting their educational aspirations, it is my privilege to award you ����ɬ’s 2024 FEARLESS Award.

By Mark Shepard, Regional Director of Development

It is a joy and blessing to serve ����ɬ as a Regional Director of Development. One of the joys of my job is meeting remarkable alumni living out their God-giving calling as scholar-servants – alumni like David Causer.

What would the world look like if more of our corporate leaders had been steeped in hands-on learning that emphasized principles and ethics? David Causer, a graduate of the Houghton Class of 1974, has a tiny glimpse of that kind of world every day. As President of Global Educational Concepts and Southwestern Advantage, Dave has daily opportunities to create a learning and working environment for aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world that allows them to grow and flourish while enforcing ethical and principled business and sales practices. Over the years, thousands of college students from fifty-seven different countries have worked for Southwestern Advantage, taking the opportunity to gain work experience, receiving sales training and earn money to support their education.

But Dave didn’t start at the top of the ladder. Very few of us do. Dave grew up in rural, impoverished Bradford, Pennsylvania before coming to Houghton in 1970 seeking to follow God’s calling on his life. Dave was a student-athlete, participating in both basketball and golf. He seemed to enjoy taking on financial responsibilities for student organizations serving as treasurer for the sophomore class and the Young Administrator’s Organization. He even took a stint as a sports reporter for the Houghton STAR. As a business administration major with a minor in physical education, Dave took advantage of every opportunity to grow in his areas of interest.

One of those opportunities came in his freshman year when he was recruited to work as a salesman for Southwestern Advantage. Southwestern advantage has been training and employing college students since the mid-nineteenth century, and Dave joined a long list of successful leaders when he signed up to go door-to-door selling educational books to families. Dave was a notable success, recruiting, training and magazine a 1,000-person sales organization of university students and achieving the status of youngest director in the history of Southwestern Advantage.

Classmate and golf team member, Peter Luckey, remarked, “One of my strongest memories of Dave is of his first summer selling for Southwest. I believe he was the highest 1st year sales person for Southwest profiting more than $10,000 dollars in one summer in the early ’70s. What I remember most was one of his sales techniques. Dave explained that when he was closing the sale he would pull out his pen and pretend to be communicating with his supervisor to confirm he could offer the best deal possible. Of course, this was before the age of cell phones and it was like something out of a futuristic movie! Dave was always one of those guys that made life fun and he would help out anyone.”

Each summer during college, Dave returned to Southwestern Advantage, travelling in his assigned territories selling books to families. After college, he started full-time with the company and has never left. Dave’s commitment to Southwestern Advantage is about far more than selling books. His commitment is grounded in the belief that Southwestern’s Sales School can be a life changer and a career-shaper for college students. For the last twenty-five years, Dave has been heavily involved in the United States Department of State’s public diplomacy BridgeUSA program, which has allowed international students from nearly 60 countries to travel to the US where they work for the summer, train in the Sales School and go home with a better understanding of ethical business practices and American culture.

Dave’s wife Cindy, shared a telling anecdote about her husband. “When Dave was about 10 years old, he remembers that a speaker came to his church and gave a talk about being a Christian businessman. It was so impactful that David decided then that he wanted to be a Christian businessman. At the time he did not know how that would be possible, but God honored that desire in David and caused the right people to be in his life at various times to make that dream come true. His focus is always to teach and encourage consistency, integrity, persistence, and perseverance.”

Dave lives in Nashville with his wife Cindy, where they raised their two children. They’re active members of their church and have supported a local private Christian school. Dave is also a strong supporter of Save Haven ministry in Nashville, which serves people and families experiencing homelessness, and of international ministries including an orphanage in South Africa.

Dave has remained a committed Houghton alumnus. Multi-year members of the 1883 Society, Dave and Cindy have also enjoyed hosting alumni events at his home in Nashville, Tennessee. Dave remains interested in connecting with Houghton students through BEST Talks, employment opportunities and sponsoring Houghton’s LEAD program.

Dave’s passion for high quality business training, his dedication to his career, his tireless work to advance the mission of Southwestern Advantage and his support of ����ɬ combine to make a remarkable Houghton alumnus. For these reasons, and so many more, it is a privilege to present David Causer with ����ɬ’s 2024 Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award.