Dear MHGS Alumni and friends:

It is with great excitement and personal enthusiasm I announce to you the appointment of J. Derek McNeil, PhD to the position of Academic Dean at Mars Hill Graduate School. Derek brings the unanimous support of the Board of Trustees and my complete confidence to this strategic role. Derek’s intellectual acumen, wisdom, deep spirituality, commitment to theological inquiry and innovative thinking about education will provide significant leadership for our academic program and for the school.

Dr. McNeil comes to us with extensive experience including almost 15 years at the Wheaton College Graduate School where he worked with doctoral students in counseling psychology. In addition, Dr. McNeil has worked as a clinician in private practice, a diversity advisor and coordinator, and as an organizational consultant and administrator.

His Ph D. is in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and he has also earned an M Div from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. McNeil’s deep commitment to education and ministry is timely as we look forward to developing our work with the Association of Theological Schools in the next year. His research, writing, and speaking have also focused on issues of ethnic and racial socialization, the role of forgiveness in peacemaking, the identity development of African-American males, and marital intimacy. Dr. McNeil’s teaching has also included coursework on Social, Cultural, and Spiritual Foundations of Mental Health, Family Systems Therapy and Group Theory and Therapy.

I know you will enjoy reading his vita to see a sample of the work he’s done most recently. You can find it here (PDF.)

His wife, Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter-McNeil, spoke to the MHGS faculty, staff, students, alumni, and our spouses/significant others last fall as part of a conference called Humanity Through Community. She is the director of Salter-McNeil & Associates, an organization which works specifically in the fields of intercultural competency and racial reconciliation. Derek and Brenda have two children, Omari and Mia.

Derek has served on our Board of Trustees for the past two years; he is committed to our mission and the development of therapists, leaders, and people in all forms of ministry.

Please join me in celebrating God’s movement which brings Dr. Derek McNeil to the MHGS community.