David C. Wang is the Cliff and Joyce Penner Chair of the Formation of Emotionally Healthy Leaders at Fuller Theological Seminary, where his academic and applied work focuses on the holistic formation of Christian leaders—integrating emotional health and resilience with intellectual and spiritual formation. He played a key role in drafting accreditation standards for The Association of Theological Schools related to spiritual formation and currently serves on advisory boards for ATS initiatives in Trauma and Spirituality and Global Awareness and Engagement, supporting global theological educators in addressing the spiritual and mental health needs of diverse Christian leaders. A licensed psychologist and pastor, Wang is the past editor of the Journal of Psychology and Theology (2017–24) and serves on the editorial board of the APA journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice. He has secured more than $6 million in research funding as principal investigator and an additional $12.5 million as co-investigator or advisor.
Wang oversees the Global Formation Project, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust, which studies the human and spiritual formation of Christian leaders across Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant traditions worldwide. He is also co–principal investigator of the Trauma-Resilient Church Collective, a five-year Lilly Endowment Inc.–funded initiative equipping congregations to address trauma at individual and systemic levels. His research interests include trauma and resilience, spiritual formation and theology, multicultural psychology, peace, and justice, and his work has been published widely in leading academic journals. An international speaker and educator, Wang maintains a small clinical practice in Fullerton, California, serves as pastor of spiritual formation at One Life City Church, consults with organizations such as the International Justice Mission, and regularly contributes to national media and podcasts. He and his wife, Vivian, live in Fullerton with their two daughters.
