Westmont Inaugurates Eighth President, Beebe Focuses On Global Education Imperative

Westmont inaugurates Gayle D. Beebe, its eighth president, Friday, April 11, with a day of events and lectures focusing on “The Global Imperative: Education and the Knowledge Society in the 21st Century.” With the exception of the afternoon panel discussions, all events are by invitation only and require a ticket.

Click here to view the complete schedule of events.

The festivities kick off with a breakfast and address by Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort. Guests will hear responses to Forbes’ address by current and former CEOs.

Beebe, who assumed leadership of Westmont July 1, 2007, will be installed at a ceremony in Westmont’s Murchison Gym at 10:30 a.m.

A lunch in Page Multipuprose Room will include voices from Beebe’s past and present.

The public is welcome to attend free panel discussions on “The Global Imperative” which begin at 2:15 p.m. in Page Multipurpose Room. Warren Rogers, physics professor and academic dean, will present “Natural and Behavioral Sciences and the Global Imperative.” Panelists include Kim Kihlstrom, professor of computer science, Ken Kihlstrom, physics professor, Jeff Schloss, biology professor, and Niva Tro, chemistry professor

Susan Penksa, associate professor of political science, will present a public panel discussion, “Social Sciences and the Global Imperative,” at 3:15 p.m. in the Page Multipurpose Room. Panelists include Allister Chapman, assistant professor of history, Laura Montgomery, professor of anthropology, and Edd Noell, professor of business and economics.

Charles Farhadian, associate professor of religious studies, will present “Humanities and the Global Imperative” at 4:15 p.m. in the Page Multipurpose Room. Marilyn McEntyre, professor of English, Omedi Ochieng, assistant professor of communication studies, and Michael Shasberger, Adams professor of music and worship will serve as panelists.

USC President Steve Sample will speak at dinner on “Leadership and the Global Imperative” at Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara.

The Inaugural Ball is Saturday, April 12, at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort.

Beebe served as president of Spring Arbor University in Michigan for seven years. He attended Westmont for a semester in 1980 while earning his bachelor’s degree at George Fox University in Oregon. He has earned master’s degrees in divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, in philosophy of religion and theology from Claremont Graduate University, and in business administration in strategic management from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University. He completed his doctorate in philosophy of religion and theology at Claremont Graduate University in 1997.

Under his leadership, Spring Arbor was named a top-tier university by U.S. News & World Report in its America’s Best Colleges and Universities publication. The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities awarded the university the 2003 Racial Harmony Award, which honors institutions making considerable progress in the areas of diversity, racial harmony and reconciliation. Dr. Beebe was also instrumental in improving campus facilities at Spring Arbor, which completed a $45 million capital campaign during his tenure, including a major academic building.

Prior to leading Spring Arbor, Dr. Beebe served as dean of the school of theology at Azusa Pacific University. In addition to teaching courses in the philosophy of religion and theology there, he chaired the department of ministry and directed the Friends Center. His career includes five years as senior pastor of Sherwood Community Friends Church in Sherwood, Ore., and positions as interim pastor and pastor of adult ministries.

Dr. Beebe has published numerous academic articles and edited several publications. He spent five years working with Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Lynda Graybeal and Thomas Oden to write the acclaimed “Renovare Study Bible.”

He and his wife, Pam, have three children: Anna, 15, Elizabeth, 13, and Ricky, 9.