What Makes an Andrews Education Adventist (and What May Get in the Way)?
Abstract
The Christian college or university is a subset under the general taxonomy of American higher education that includes hundreds of institutions, but curiously Andrews is not often listed among them. In fact, Adventist institutions are more likely found on general listings of regional or national colleges and universities.
And yet since its founding in 1874, Andrews has been preoccupied with its commitment to Christian teachings in general, and denominational loyalty in particular, in both its educational work and campus life. In fact, institutional progress or setback is often associated in some minds with faithfulness to our religious heritage. How does Andrews keep this heritage in the face of so many demographic, cultural and theological changes all around us? We will explore this question in conversations with students, parents, church leaders, faculty and staff, and the campus Center for College Faith.
Biography
Niels-Erik Andreasen was born in Fredensborg, Denmark. He graduated from Newbold College in England in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in religion and history. Andreasen has both an MA in Biblical studies and a BDiv from Andrews University; he received his doctorate degree in religious studies from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He has taught at both Pacific Union College and Loma Linda University and has traveled the world as a visiting lecturer as well as served as president of both Walla Walla College and Andrews University. In addition, he has served on several hospital boards and Seventh-day Adventist executive committees.
Andreasen is the author of three books as well as various articles and reviews. He and his wife, Demetra Lougani of Athens, Greece, have a son, Michael, who is vice president for advancement at the University of Oregon, and two grandchildren. Andreasen retired in 2016.
Michelle Odinma is currently a second year graduate student at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary of Andrews University. For the past six years she has worked as a teacher with the Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and Benton Harbor public schools. After developing her own music ministry in 2014, Michelle began more widespread traveling, sharing her love of God through preaching and singing to a variety of audiences. In her spare time she enjoys reading, playing sports and connecting with young people. In completion of her degree, she hopes to work as a public campus chaplain to continue impacting God's next generation.
Maurice Valentine II served as a pastor for twenty-eight years before transitioning to the first of several conference leadership positions. He has served as assistant to the president of the Central States Conference, union ministerial director and executive secretary of the Mid-America Union, and Lake Union executive secretary and is currently the president of the Lake Union Conference as well as vice-chair of the Andrews University board. Valentine received both his BA in theology and AS in communications from Oakwood University and his Master of Divinity from Andrews University. His experiences also include conducting workshops and forums, serving as a guest professor and presenter at Union College, and providing assistance for health systems in assessing missional outreach. Valentine is married to Sharon (Livingston) Valentine, and they have three adult children.
June Price holds a master's in counseling with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Southern Adventist University. She practiced as a clinician providing individual, marital and family therapy prior to entering the Student Life field as the dean of women at Bass Memorial Academy and later as associate dean of women at Andrews University. She has been involved in education for many years, teaching religion at the secondary level and psychology at the collegiate. She is happily married and has three children, one son and two daughters.
June has had the privilege of being involved in ministry throughout her adult life, preaching and proclaiming the truth of the Gospel of Christ and the abundant life He offers. She now serves as the University chaplain at Andrews University. Her passion is the pursuit of God and His transforming power in our lives through changing the way we think (Romans 12:2).
As a documentary filmmaker, Paul Kim has filmed across six continents on projects that explore issues in human rights, social justice, and the intersection of politics, religion and civic engagement. His documentaries have played at domestic and international festivals. An active presence at some of the leading film festivals in North America, his own contributions in organizing have helped bring together an incredibly diverse community of producers and filmmakers representing many corners of the industry.
Paul completed his MFA from American University in Washington, DC, where he also served as a graduate fellow in the Center for Social Media through a grant from the Ford Foundation. He is currently the lead architect of an unprecedented undergraduate documentary film program which combines the best of the fine arts and photography traditions with the emerging documentary film movement.
Vincent and Barbara Harrison first met at Andrews University while he was studying medical lab science and she was studying nursing. They married in 1993 and many years later returned to the Detroit area where he completed medical school at Wayne State University (WSU). Barbara took this opportunity to also go back to graduate school and completed training as an acute care nurse practitioner. During this time they were blessed with three sons, Vincent II, Logan and Russell. Upon completion of Vincent's surgical residency, the family prayerfully moved west to Portland, Oregon, so Vincent could expand his skillset in a Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship.
As time passed, Vincent and Barbara became increasingly unsettled, aware of their own passion for service at a ground level while wondering what opportunities would be available to the boys if they were nearer a Christian university. More importantly, they desired a solution where everyone would grow closer to the Lord amongst a diverse group of like-minded believers. They laid this multifaceted desire before the Lord, trusting that He, knowing beginning from end, would provide. Not long after, the opportunity presented itself for Barbara to join the Department of Nursing at Andrews, their alma mater. While Andrews held such fond memories for them both, it brought the challenge of uprooting the youngest two, a soon-to-be high school junior and a senior. It’s just been one year, but their young men have assimilated seamlessly. It is abundantly clear to all that the Lord has blessed and continues to lead. They look forward to seeing how God uses their passion and talents in furthering His work.
Location
BUL150
Start Date
8-17-2018 10:00 AM
End Date
8-17-2018 12:20 PM
What Makes an Andrews Education Adventist (and What May Get in the Way)?
BUL150
The Christian college or university is a subset under the general taxonomy of American higher education that includes hundreds of institutions, but curiously Andrews is not often listed among them. In fact, Adventist institutions are more likely found on general listings of regional or national colleges and universities.
And yet since its founding in 1874, Andrews has been preoccupied with its commitment to Christian teachings in general, and denominational loyalty in particular, in both its educational work and campus life. In fact, institutional progress or setback is often associated in some minds with faithfulness to our religious heritage. How does Andrews keep this heritage in the face of so many demographic, cultural and theological changes all around us? We will explore this question in conversations with students, parents, church leaders, faculty and staff, and the campus Center for College Faith.