The Hesston College Board of Overseers is pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Howard Keim as president of Hesston College for a second term. Keim officially began serving January 1, 2005, and the next four-year term will begin January 1, 2009.
“The Hesston College Board is grateful that Dr. Keim will continue his leadership at Hesston College. Howard is a respected leader, and his role as president of Hesston College was highly supported. His commitment to Mennonite Church USA and its values, personal faith, high academic standards, and the future of Hesston College will serve the college and the church for years to come,” said Norm Yoder, chair of Hesston College Board of Overseers.
Keim looks forward to the future. “I am honored to accept the appointment of a new term as president of Hesston College, and I am grateful for the confidence of Mennonite Education Agency, the Hesston College Board, faculty and staff, and the pastors, alumni, and friends who support the college,” he said. “We have made good progress through transitions in the past few years, and have strong challenges ahead. I will do my best to be a good steward of the trust that has been placed in me.”
The review process began in the fall of 2007, Keim’s third year as president. Using the information gathered from interviews and a survey distributed to students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and churchwide leaders, the Presidential Review Committee recommended Keim’s reappointment to the Hesston College Board of Overseers and the Mennonite Education Agency Board of Directors (MEA). MEA, based near Goshen, Ind., is the education agency of Mennonite Church USA.
“Based on the responses received from both within and outside the Hesston College community, it was clear that Howard had strong overall support and has been an effective leader for Hesston College,” said Ginny Birky, chair of the Presidential Review Committee and member of the Hesston College Board of Overseers. She also expressed gratitude to the many persons who took time to respond to the survey.
James L. Rosenberger, chair of MEA Board of Directors, commented on the review and reappointment process. “We were pleased to join with the Hesston College Board in the important task of ensuring strong leadership for Hesston for the upcoming years. It was satisfying to experience how our boards worked together to confirm this presidential reappointment to strengthen the church through education.”
“Higher education institutions face many challenges in today’s climate of cultural, demographic, economic, and technological changes,” said Carlos Romero, MEA executive director. “As president, Dr. Keim has worked at them strategically, patiently, and with great wisdom. I commend him and the other Mennonite presidents as they balance today’s demands with dreams for the future of Mennonite higher education. Not only does Mennonite higher education have an impact on individuals, it also strengthens the church, local communities, and the wider world community due to the contributions of its many alumni.”
Before coming to Hesston College, Keim served as the vice president of academics and student development at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan. His background in the education arena includes nine years as director of the Pastoral Ministries program and as an instructor of communication at Hesston College from 1987-96. Before joining the faculty at Hesston College, Keim served as pastor at Kalona (Iowa) Mennonite Church and as youth minister at Fairview (Mich.) Mennonite Church.
Keim grew up in eastern Michigan and attended Pigeon River Conservative Mennonite Church. He received an associate degree from Hesston College in 1972. Keim also holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Dramatic Arts and a master’s degree in Interpersonal and Public Communication from Central Michigan University, and a doctorate in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas.
Keim and his wife, Tami (Birky), live in Hesston and are members of Whitestone Mennonite Church. They have two adult daughters and one grandchild.