09 Oct 2025
09 Oct 2025

ATS Research Webinar on Chief Academic Officers Leadership Study

Price: TBD
  • Price: FREE

Overview

By registration; Join us for a research webinar that will share findings from the ATS Leadership Study on Chief Academic Officers in Theological Education, including pathways and preparation for the role, the changing nature of the work, and key challenges and stressors for CAOs.

We'll also share participants’ perspectives about how ATS can help and ATS future programming to support chief academic officers.

Other discussion points will include:
• What are significant shifts in the roles and what keeps these leaders awake at night?
• What are key predictors of them looking for another job?

This webinar is designed for those in senior leadership positions and those exploring such positions at ATS member schools.


Agenda

Workshops

Accommodations

Presenters
Deborah H.C. Gin

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Deborah H.C. Gin

Deborah H. C. Gin serves as director of research for The Association of Theological Schools. In addition to launching the Association’s new research initiative and directing programs for faculty, she contributes to the ongoing dialogue about educational models that will have future viability and sustainability. Gin came to ATS from Azusa Pacific University, where she served as a senior faculty fellow in the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment and as associate professor of ministry at Azusa Pacific Seminary. She previously served as director of assessment analysis and education and as director of diversity studies at Azusa.

Gin's areas of research include pedagogy, higher education administration, multicultural education engagement, and diversity inclusivity. Prior to coming to ATS, she received a research grant to pursue Asian American faculty perspectives on the pursuit of administration in higher education and presented at an international conference on multicultural education in Seoul, Korea. Her articles have appeared in To Improve the Academy, Theological Education, and Multicultural Education Review. Chapters she has published include “Ruth: Identity and Leadership from Multivocal Spaces,” in Mirrored Reflections: Reframing Biblical Characters; “Loving My Neighbor,” in Strength to Be Holy; and “Asian American Ethnic/Racial Identity Development,” in Asian American Christianity: A Reader.

Gin is a regular blogger on leadership issues related to Asian American women, has been a frequent invited speaker on topics related to race, excellence, and inclusion, and is a member of the Association of American Colleges & Universities’ VALUE initiative Intercultural Competence rubric development team. She earned an MDiv from Haggard Graduate School of Theology, a master’s of music degree in vocal performance from the University of Southern California, and a PhD in higher education from Claremont Graduate University.

Randy MacFarland

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Randy MacFarland

Randy MacFarland served for 15 years as a church planter and pastor in Rehoboth, Massachusetts from 1974–1989. He was a faculty member and administrator at the Worchester, MA center of Seminary of the East from 1989–1997.

In 1997, he was appointed vice president of Training and Mentoring at Denver Seminary where he designed and implemented a process for developing character and ministry competencies through mentoring relationships and individualized learning plans. He served as academic dean for 17 years at Denver Seminary, which included ten years with the added responsibilities of provost. He has written and led workshops on mentoring, theological education, and the deanship.

MacFarland received his BA from Hartwick College, an MDiv from Denver Seminary, a DMin in psychology and clinical studies from Andover Newton, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Denver Seminary. He retired from Denver Seminary as Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Care and Leadership. He continues to work with seminary students, serve in a pastoral role in a retirement community, and enjoys his family, which now includes six grandchildren.


Other

Webinar Contact
Monica Laughery

Date & Time
Thu, Oct 09, 2025 , 2 p.m. ET
Thu, Oct 09, 2025 , 3 p.m. ET

Location
Zoom

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