The beginning of 2017 has brought several new appointments at RTS Orlando in positions of leadership regarding academics, operations, and community relations. Recently appointed campus president Dr. Scott Swain said, “God has richly blessed RTS Orlando with three people who are exceptionally well-suited to fill three vital roles in campus leadership. I consider it a special privilege to have the opportunity to work alongside dear and gifted friends like Mike Allen, Leigh Swanson, and David Veldkamp who share a Christ-centered vision for preparing servants of Christ’s church.”
Chancellor Ligon Duncan and the board of trustees have appointed Dr. Michael Allen to serve as Academic Dean. Allen received his academic training at Wheaton College (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.). He has served as Associate Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at RTS Orlando for two years, following a season as the D. James Kennedy Chair of Systematic Theology and Dean of the Faculty at Knox Theological Seminary. He has written or edited numerous books and published many scholarly essays in leading theological journals. Allen is a teaching elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, regularly preaching throughout central and south Florida and having chaired presbytery committees in recent years.
Swain and Allen collaborate on numerous scholarly projects, including writing or editing books such as Reformed Catholicity and Christian Dogmatics and editing two book series: Zondervan Academic’s New Studies in Dogmatics and the T & T Clark International Theological Commentary. They now look forward to working together in providing a theological vision for ministerial preparation at RTS Orlando, and they will continue to teach the required core courses in systematic theology.
Two other administrative assignments fill out the President’s Cabinet in Orlando by redeploying alumni and proven staff members in new positions of campus leadership. Leigh Swanson (M.A. ’12) has been named Vice President of Community Relations, responsible for connecting with alumni, donors, and churches in our region to help maximize the reach and the support of the campus. Swanson is no stranger to students and staff, having served notably over the last four years as Associate Dean of Students. She brings the perspective of a student, alumna, and pastor’s wife to her new responsibilities. In addition to her role at RTS Orlando, Swanson serves on the National Leadership Team of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and speaks regularly at various events around the country.
David Veldkamp (M.Div. ’17) has been appointed Vice President of Administration, overseeing the admissions, business, information technology, and facilities departments. He also brings familiarity with the institution to his role, as he is concluding his own studies this year. His experience goes further still, however, as he has served the campus as Admissions Coordinator and, for the last year, as Director of Admissions. Before coming to RTS, he worked at Reformation Bible College in nearby Sanford, FL. He also serves as a ruling elder at a local congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.