McCormick Names David H. Crawford Eleventh President
07-31-2018
McCormick Theological Seminary announced today that Interim President David H. Crawford has been asked to serve as its eleventh President by its Board of Trustees.
“The Trustees are unanimous in their support to name David McCormick’s eleventh President. He’s the right leader with the right skills at the right time as we lean into our future, and he has earned the full support of the McCormick community -‐ faculty, staff, students, trustees, and alums. We are delighted that he has agreed to continue his service at McCormick” Pete Cochrane, Board Chair stated. “David has spent much of the last 15 years in service to McCormick, and we are thrilled that after a year of great progress, he has agreed to serve for two more years, with an option for a third year,” added Cochrane.
Last year, the board appointed Crawford to serve as Interim President while a special discernment committee composed of Cochrane, former and current Deans of the Faculty and Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs, Ted Hiebert and Steed Davidson (respectively) and Trustees, Connie Lindsey and Erica Liu convened a series of conversations with students, staff, faculty, alums, and other key constituents to discuss the qualities and qualifications needed to lead McCormick. Together with the Executive Committee, they analyzed responses to the questions about what they sought in a new president. The qualities that came up again and again in conversation were transparency, sensitivity, vision, and courage. Each group expressed its appreciation for the job Crawford has done over the years and enthusiasm about his vision for where McCormick is heading.
“I am so grateful and humbled by this opportunity to continue my service at McCormick. We have set a new course that honors McCormick’s rich tradition of innovation and projects our mission and programs outward into congregations and the communities we and our alums serve,” said Crawford. “In these extraordinary times, McCormick, perhaps more than any other institution in our great city, has an opportunity to bring communities together in faithful pursuit of justice, service, and reconciliation,” Crawford added.
“David is the ideal choice to serve McCormick as its president as we grow and move forward,” affirmed former dean Ted Hiebert upon Crawford’s appointment. “I have known David for many years, and worked closely with him during my time as dean. He knows McCormick inside and out and as a former board member, chief business officer, and interim president he has skillfully and thoughtfully led McCormick toward new programs and stronger financial stability. More importantly, as I have said before, McCormick’s mission is close to his heart. He has a broad vision for the seminary and a deep commitment to its future.”
Current dean Steed Davidson agrees and added, “David’s gentle, participatory, supportive, and visionary leadership offers little surprise to those who have known and worked with him for a long time. That he brings these qualities to a theological seminary from a background in the practice of the law and after many years of work at the seminary may surprise others. We have marveled at the way he has in the past year filled the role of interim president making the decision that more imperative. As a faculty we are confident in David’s leadership as he facilitates the innovations that we will step into in the years to come.”
