Two Walla Walla Leadership Positions Filled By Former Southern Administrators
August 10, 2017: Two high-level administrative positions at Walla Walla University have been awarded to candidates who formerly worked as administrators at Southern Adventist University.
The Union-Bulletin reports that Volker R. Henning who worked at Southern as associate vice president for academic administration will join Walla Walla in September as vice president for academic administration.
Henning taught journalism and communication at Southern for 17 years. He was also dean of the School of Journalism and Communication before becoming associate vice president in 2006.
Doug Tilstra, also a former Southern administrator, joined Walla Walla as vice president for student life. Tilstra served as director of outdoor education at Southern.
His role at Southern saw him mentoring and developing students for leadership. Much of the mentoring and leadership development was designed to take place through outdoor activities.
At Walla Walla he will oversee all areas of student life including housing, spiritual and social programs, as well as counseling and health services.
On June 1, 2016, David Smith took office as president of Southern Adventist University. Smith had taught English at Southern before serving as president of Union College in Nebraska. He worked as senior pastor for the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists before taking the role of president at Southern.
Smith succeeded Gordon Bietz, the former Southern president who had served in the role for almost two decades.