André Stephens, Ph.D.
President
As president of Fresno Pacific University, André Stephens, Ph.D., brings the same passion he has carried for more than 30 years of service to Christian higher education in California: “Students’ success is our success.”
Since assuming the presidency on July 1, 2022, Stephens has led administration, faculty and staff in a university-wide effort to improve policies, processes and procedures across all student populations—traditional undergraduate, bachelor’s degree completion, graduate and seminary—and all campuses to smooth the pathway for students to achieve their educational dreams.
In his planning, Stephens has embraced the challenges and opportunities higher education faces nationally—fewer traditional college-age students and doubt about the importance or public benefit of higher education—and in FPU’s home, California’s Central Valley—deep-seated economic issues and low college graduation rates. Initiatives begun under his leadership have already resulted in increased enrollment in certain areas and retention.
President André Stephens and First Lady Beth Stephens
Stephens completed his B.A. in Communication with a public relations emphasis from Biola, his M.A. in Speech Communication with an emphasis in intercultural/interpersonal communication from California State University at Fullerton and his Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in higher education administration/student affairs from Claremont Graduate University.
President Stephens and First Lady Beth Stephens, a fellow Biola graduate and former teacher, have three adult children.