THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
The President's Office provides leadership, vision, and support to make Southern Adventist
University an exceptional place of spiritual and academic growth for students as well
as a safe place for parents to entrust their children, a great place for employees to work, an alma mater for alumni to be proud of, an institution of distinction for the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, and ultimately, a place of opportunity to connect all on campus
with mission, service, and their calling.
ABOUT KEN SHAW, EDD
Ken Shaw, ’80, took office as the 27th president of Southern Adventist University
on June 1, 2021. Shaw had previously served for seven years as president of Southwestern
Adventist University in Keene, Texas. Prior to that he worked at Florida State University
for 25 years in various capacities, from assistant professor of mathematics education
to campus dean of Florida State University Panama City and academic dean of the College
of Applied Studies. His track record as a leader in higher education includes increasing
enrollment, establishing new academic programs, and improving institutional financial
stability.
Shaw holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Southern Adventist University, master’s degree in mathematics from Middle Tennessee State University, and doctoral degree in mathematics education from the University of Georgia.
Shaw is the first Southern president who is also an alum. His entire family also graduated from Southern: his wife, Ann (Kennedy), earned her nursing degree in 1979; their daughter, Kate Myers, earned her associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing in 2008 and 2009; and their son, Martin, earned his pastoral care degree in 2012.