Administration
D. MERRILL EWERT, Ph.D.
President
Office location: McDonald Hall
Telephone: 559-453-2010
Fax: 559-453-2007
Email:fpupres@fresno.edu
Education, Church and community are the three threads that weave through the career of D. Merrill Ewert, 10th president of Fresno Pacific University. In 2002, Ewert came to FPU from Cornell University where he had served as a professor in education, the director of Cornell Cooperative Extension and associate dean for outreach in the colleges of agriculture and human ecology. He had previously taught at the University of Maryland and served as the Director of Extension and Continuing Education at Wheaton College ( Ill.). He spent seven years in Africa in the areas of relief and community development with the Mennonite Brethren Church, the Mennonite Central Committee and MAP International. As a Fulbright Senior Scholar, Ewert did research in the Philippines on the process through which community-based organizations build "social capital" and strengthen civil society.
HERMA B. WILLIAMS, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Office location: McDonald Hall
Telephone: 559-453-2031
Fax: 559-453-2007
Email: herma.williams@fresno.edu
Before coming to FPU, Herma Williams was associate provost at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. Williams has published one book and authored numerous articles and papers, but is also deeply committed to strengthening faculty scholarship and promoting student research. As a Fulbright Scholar, she directed a program designed to strengthen academic excellence at the University of the Western Cape and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. In high demand as a speaker, Williams recently delivered the commencement address at Malone College (Canton, Ohio).
JOHN WARD
Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs
Office location: McDonald Hall
Telephone: 559-453-2252
Fax: 559-453-2007
Email:
John Ward works with the president and others to set financial goals and has day-to-day responsibility for the university's budget of over $20 million. He also oversees several departments, including the business, human resources, information services, auxiliary services and facilities management. Ward sees his role as a member of a team committed to helping FPU realize its potential in ways consistent with its core values and mission. "FPU is only as good as its faculty and academics. Our ability to grow will be dependent on our ability to attract students and faculty and maintain a good faculty-student ratio, " he said. Ward joined FPU in 2002 as director of accounts for the school of professional studies.
MARK DEFFENBACHER
Vice President for Advancement and University Relations
Executive Director FPU Foundation
Office location: McDonald Hall
Telephone: 559-453-2239
Fax: 559-453-2007
Email:
Mark Deffenbacher has spent his career in the non-profit sector. He has a bachelor of arts from Warner Pacific College, a master of arts from Anderson University School of Theology and C.F.R.E. certification. He has served Fresno Pacific University since 1993 as planned giving officer and foundation executive director and continues to consult and present seminars for other non-profit organizations throughout the nation.
ALAN OURS
Vice President, Chief Information Officer
Office: Kriegbaum Hall
Telephone: 559-453-3407
Fax: 559-252-8847
Email :
Before coming to Fresno Pacific in 2005, Alan Ours spent thirteen years working in the Information Technology department at Taylor University, most recently as director of IT and security. He has a bachelor of arts in math/computer science from The King's College, and a master of science in information and communication sciences from Ball State University.
STEVE VARVIS, Ph.D.
Vice President for Enrollment Management
Office location: McDonald Hall
Telephone: 559-453-7155
Fax: 559-453-2007
Email: slvarvis@fresno.edu
Since 1985, Steve Varvis has been shaping the lives of future leaders at Fresno Pacific University. While Steve has worked in a variety of roles at FPU, from history professor to dean, his number one priority has always been the students. Steve received his bachelor of arts from California State University, Fresno and his doctorate from Claremont Graduate University.
