The Rev. Dr. Leanne Van Dyk

Denomination: Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA)
Organization: Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA

The Rev. Dr. Leanne Van Dyk is the tenth president of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, where she also is professor of theology.

Before coming to Columbia, Leanne was the dean and vice president of academic affairs at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, for 11 years, and was a member of the Western faculty beginning in 1998. She earlier taught at San Francisco Theological Seminary and Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.

An ordained Presbyterian minister, Leanne is a graduate of Calvin College, earned a masters in early childhood education at Western Michigan University, and an M.Div. from Calvin Theological Seminary. She received her Ph.D. in systematic theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Dr. Van Dyk's other professional experience includes serving as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS); as a member of the advisory committee for a $6 million Lilly Grant on new models in theological education; as a member of the Wabash Center's Consultation on Theological Education; and on various projects with the Office of Theology and Worship for the Presbyterian Church (USA). One of her efforts remembered by many in the PC(USA) was as a member of the Catechism Committee which completed its work in 1998. She also participated in the Re-Forming Ministry project with the Office of Theology and Worship.

She has served on the editorial boards of Perspectives, the Journal of Reformed Thought, and the Scottish Journal of Theology. Dr. Van Dyk has published several books, including A More Profound Alleluia: Theology and Worship in Harmony for which she was also editor (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005); Believing in Jesus Christ, part of the "Foundations" series sponsored by the Office of Theology and Worship of the PC(USA) (Geneva Press, 2002); and The Desire of Divine Love: The Atonement Theology of John McLeod Campbell (Peter Lang Publishers, 1995).

Columbia Theological Seminary is committed to "educating imaginative, resilient leaders for God's changing world." As an educational institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Columbia is a community of theological inquiry and formation for ministry in the service of the Church of Jesus Christ. Columbia offers seven graduate degree programs and dozens of courses and events as a resource for church professionals and lay people through the Center for Lifelong Learning. For more information, please visit www.ctsnet.edu.