Elizabeth Kiss, president of Agnes Scott College, and Leann Van Dyk, president of Columbia Theological Seminary, provide testimony about their leadership experience at the 2016 National Gathering.
Elizabeth Kiss is president of Agnes Scott College. During her tenure, she has launched Agnes Advantage, supporting study abroad, internships and mentored research; new undergraduate programs in neuroscience, public health, and environmental and sustainability studies; the fielding of the first women’s collegiate varsity lacrosse team in Georgia; and the largest first-year class in college history. She is a graduate of Davidson College and received a B.Phil. and D.Phil. in philosophy from Oxford University in England.
Leanne Van Dyk currently serves as President and Professor of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary. She holds degrees from Calvin College (B.A.), Western Michigan University (M.A.), Calvin Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Princeton Theological Seminary where she earned her Ph.D. in Systematic Theology, magna cum laude. Before teaching at Western Theological Seminary, she previously taught at San Francisco Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Dr. Van Dyk’s other professional experience includes serving as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological School (ATS); as a co-moderator of a colloquy on Reformed Theology and Worship sponsored by the Institute of Reformed Theology; as a member of the Wabash Center’s Consultation on Theological Education; and on various projects with the Office of Theology and Worship for the Presbyterian Church (USA). One of her efforts remembered by many in the PC(USA) was a member of the Catechism Committee which completed its work in 1998. She also participated in the Re-Forming Ministry project with the Office of Theology and Worship. She has served on the editorial boards of Perspectives, the Journal of Reformed Thought, and the Scottish Journal of Theology. Dr. Van Dyk has published several books, including A More Profound Alleluia: Theology and Worship in Harmony for which she was also editor (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005); Believing in Jesus Christ, part of the “Foundations” series sponsored by the Office of Theology and Worship of the PC(USA) (Geneva Press, 2002); and The Desire of Divine Love: The Atonement Theology of John McLeod Campbell (Peter Lang Publishers, 1995).