PHOENIXVILLE, Pennsylvania, September 29, 2017 — On October 12, 2017, the University of Valley Forge (UVF) will install the Reverend David S. Kim as its tenth president, succeeding Dr. Don Meyer who retired in 2016 after 19 years of service.
The UVF Board of Trustees unanimously affirmed Kim as its 10th president in the 2017 spring meeting on April 5. The Board additionally affirmed Dr. Ron McManus as the University’s first chancellor.
Prior to joining the University of Valley Forge administration, Kim served in a variety of international and entrepreneurial leadership positions. He is a 1997 University of Valley Forge alumnus and holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey. He was ordained by the Assemblies of God in 2004. He has been a church planter and led several Christian schools in the U.S. and abroad. Kim, along with his wife Rebekah and four children – Lauren, Taylor, Nichole and Elijah – moved to Ecuador where he served as the CEO of Terrayork Cacao, a successful cacao exportation company. After a life-altering accident in 2013, Kim and his family returned to the U.S., and he became a church consultant and staff pastor before coming back to the University in 2015 as chair of the Department of Intercultural Studies. During the University of Valley Forge’s recent season of organizational restructuring, Kim was asked by the Board of Trustees Executive Committee to serve as chief operating officer, a role he began in December of 2016.
The University of Valley Forge conducted an extensive nationwide search, seeking a president with a strong spiritual journey, unique qualifications and a God-given desire to serve as president. The search began in April 2016 after Don Meyer, Ph.D., president from 1997 to 2016, presented his intent to retire. Byron Klaus, D.Min., was invited to serve as the interim president, starting July 1, 2016, while the University of Valley Forge continued the presidential search. During that time, a Presidential Search Committee and a Presidential Selection Committee were formed. Due to a family situation, Klaus requested to step down from his position as interim president at the university. Ron McManus, D.Min., stepped in as his replacement in January 2017 while the presidential search continued.
By forming two committees as part of the search, the University of Valley Forge created a process that would ensure the best candidate for presidency. The Search Committee was a nine-person committee that consisted of three district superintendents, three influential faculty members, one staff representative, the student government president and an alumni co-president. The Selection Committee consisted of seven district superintendents of the Northeast Region. The University of Valley Forge Board of Trustees Chairman Rev. Carl Colletti led both committees.
At the request of the president-elect, the position of Chancellor of the University of Valley Forge was created and the Board of Trustees unanimously appointed McManus to this role. McManus is a well-known and respected leader in the Assemblies of God. He is a graduate of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, and holds a Master of Arts degree from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. Additionally, McManus earned a Doctorate of Ministry from Erskine Seminary in Due West, South Carolina. McManus served as president of EQUIP (Encouraging Qualities Undeveloped in People), a not-for-profit Christian organization from 1997–2000. He is the former president of the Center for Church Leadership and serves as a consultant to the Church Transformation Initiative of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
The University of Valley Forge is excited to see the institution flourish under the leadership of this new administration. Kim has a passion for discipleship, church planting, and helping churches and organizations thrive. He is a student of leadership, and his drive for excellence and collaboration influences everyone around him. His gifts have already been witnessed by the university as systems and processes are restructured, and his passion to serve Jesus in all things has been continually evident.
Kim expressed his deep honor to be able to serve as the next president saying, “It is my firm conviction that the University of Valley Forge must be devoted to equipping the next generation of leaders to be completely in love with Jesus, fully devoted to following Him, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This must be our direction as the University of Valley Forge. As we offer excellence in our academic programs, we must be fully Christ-centered and deeply Spirit-filled.”
The presidential inauguration will take place on the campus of the University of Valley Forge on October 12 at 3:00 PM in the Flower Chapel. During the same week of the inauguration, Homecoming activities will begin with special chapel speakers followed by various alumni and sporting events and ending with the Presidential Black and White Gala on Saturday night, October 14 at 7:30 PM.
For more information on the university, inauguration and Homecoming 2017, visit http://www.valleyforge.edu/inauguration.
