Dr. James Dean became the vice president for advancement at Northwest Christian University in 2005. Dean came to NCU having spent 40 years as a pastor, chaplain, counselor, teacher, development officer, and business owner.
Dean graduated from Ottawa University with a bachelor's degree in history and political science, and a Master of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned a Master's degree in ancient history from the University of Illinois, Chicago and studied counseling and group dynamics at George Williams College and St. Xavier College. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the American Seminary of the West at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.
His first ministerial position was at Wheatfield Baptist Church in Wheatfield, Indiana. After four years in service there, he served at Morgan Park Christian Church in Chicago, IL. He served as a chaplain and pastoral counselor for the Adult Rehabilitation Center of the Salvation Army in Healdsburg, CA, and he founded and directed the Healdsburg Counseling Ministry through a church consortium.
He began his career in higher education at the University of North Dakota where he was an adjunct professor in social work and counseling, and was director of the Office of Chemical Use/Abuse.
Dean moved to Oregon and founded Counseling Resources, Ltd., in Medford. His career in advancement began thereafter as the director of development and public relations for the Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society. He served as the director of development for the Wellness Community of Valley/Ventura in Westland Village, CA. He became the executive director of the Providence Saint Joseph Foundation and later served as vice president at Woodbury University, Burbank, CA. He moved back to Oregon and became the development director for Pearl Buck Center in Eugene.
Dean was president of the Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce and commissioner for the City of Veneta Planning Commission. He was formerly a member of the Los Angeles Association of Fund Raising Professionals and served as vice president for membership. He was president-elect on the board of directors of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce.
For the past 13 years, Dean has operated James Dean Consulting Associates LLC, working in development consultation, strategic planning, editing, and teaching. His wife is Hannah Dean, PhD, MBA, and they have one son and two grandsons.
