Scott Sunquist Named New Dean of the School of Intercultural Studies

School's seventh dean, coming from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, assumes role July 1 :: 03/02/12

Fuller’s School of Intercultural Studies has named its seventh dean: Scott Sunquist, who will assume the deanship July 1, 2012. Dr. Sunquist succeeds previous dean C. Douglas McConnell, who vacated the position last year after being appointed provost of the seminary.

Sunquist comes to Fuller from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where he served as the W. Don McClure chair of Mission and Evangelism for thirteen years and then, four years ago, became Professor of World Christianity. At Fuller, he will be a tenured professor of World Christianity in addition to his primary role as dean.   

“I have long admired Scott Sunquist's missiological scholarship,” says President Richard J. Mouw.  "That he will now be on our leadership team at Fuller is a marvelous gift of providence!”

“I look forward to getting to know each faculty member in the School of Intercultural Studies and working with the other deans, faculty, and students,” Sunquist comments. “One of Fuller's great strengths is its three schools, and I would like to explore how the Schools of Psychology and Theology can contribute to our thinking about the missional and multicultural nature of the Church.”

After spending an extended time at Fuller's Pasadena campus meeting with members of the search committee, School of Intercultural Studies faculty, students, administration, President Richard Mouw and many others, Sunquist says that what stood out to him most was “the zeal, compassion, attentiveness, and clarity of vision” of everyone he met at Fuller.

The feedback and impressions of all those he met were overwhelmingly and unanimously positive, said Provost McConnell.  

“One of the more encouraging responses was a unanimous vote from four previous School of Intercultural Studies deans in favor of Dr. Sunquist's appointment,” said McConnell.

Sunquist added that he has known three of the school's past deans personally, and they are people he has held up in high regard.

“It is a great joy and responsibility to be following in their train,” said Sunquist.

Sunquist joined the faculty of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1995, after serving for eight years as lecturer in church history, ecumenics, and Asian Christianity at Trinity Theological College in the Republic of Singapore. He was also the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Singapore for three years. Sunquist received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, his MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has also worked for six years as a campus staff member for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship both in Virginia and in Massachusetts.