Houghton College welcomes new Vice President for Planning and Innovation Ken Schenck

As Vice President for Planning and Innovation at Houghton College, Dr. Ken Schenck connects Houghton’s resources with people who long for their experience in higher education to help them develop a pattern of continuous growth.

“I love learning; and I love serving those who love learning. So, I see my job as basically finding ways to connect Houghton College with those who have the same love and longing for learning,” Schenck said.

Schenck has been a part of Wesleyan higher education as a student and a faculty. He began his journey in higher education at Southern Wesleyan University as an undergraduate student. During his second semester at SWU, he felt God calling him into ministry. Following that call led him to Asbury Seminary, and then toward ordination in The Wesleyan Church.

At Asbury Seminary, Schenck discerned God’s call was to minister primarily through training and teaching other ministers. He moved forward with a doctorate in New Testament and was hired at Indiana Wesleyan University to teach philosophy and new testament.

Schenck’s twenty-two years of teaching at IWU led to a six-year tenure at Wesley Seminary as a founding dean, after which Schenck returned to IWU to serve as Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry (STM).

Throughout his journey in teaching and administration, Schenck has had the opportunity to learn and practice strategic planning that helps institutions of higher education be better equipped to handle future challenges. He will bring this experience to his new role, which will propel him toward partnership with enrollment, admissions, and marketing, also handling “hospitality” which helps students, alumni, and friends of the university to feel welcome and included. Having the opportunity to help lead in catalyzing growth by building on the strengths of Houghton is one of the many things he is excited about in his new role.

To find out more about Houghton’s commitment to innovation in higher education, visit Houghton.edu.