The King's Connection Magazine Volume 23 Number 2//Fall 2012 | Page 9

featured article Educating for Shalom Shalom at work In his inaugural address, President Fernhout called for King’s to make its contribution to higher learning by means of ‘Education for Shalom’. Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace but also means justice, fulfillment and delight. President Fernhout spoke of shalom as, “a vision of every creature in community with every other, living in harmony and security toward the joy and well-being for all.” The approach of ‘Education for Shalom’ resonated with faculty. In his inaugural speech President Fernhout also called for high academic achievement both for faculty in their individual research, and as they educate students in the context of a faithbased institution. “King’s should stand out as a place of such delight,” President Fernhout said in his address. “Celebrating shalom, the wonder and well-being of the cosmos wherever we can find it. This is an essential part of our Christian witness in the wide world of higher education. May we never become complacent about the delight of learning.” “He has been very supportive of both senior academic leadership and our faculty,” says Professor of Chemistry Dr. Peter Mahaffy. President Fernhout has been a tireless promoter of the work of our faculty with students including teaching, research, and mentoring.” During President Fernhout’s term he has applauded faculty successes including Dr. Peter Mahaffy’s 3M Teaching Award, Dr. Kristopher Ooms, Dr. Joe Hoffert and Dr. Andrew Tappenden’s National Science and Engineering Research Council Discovery, and continued grants funding for The King’s Centre for Visualization in Science, just to name a few. He celebrates success, welcomes new faculty and is a model of meaningful involvement in the lives of students. “Dr. Fernhout is a man of personal warmth and Godly integrity who has built a reputation of trust for King’s. He has a high regard for the school and is sensitive of the morale of the institution and as a result King’s has a good, warm atmosphere.” ‘Education for Shalom’ is the driving philosophy guiding President Fernhout in his actions at King’s, including the development of the 2010-2015 Strategic Direction. This document – cited by many as an important part of President Fernhout’s legacy – rejuvenated the institutional vision for King’s. During his time at King’s, the – Don Harder, Superintendent, It has been the driving force behind institution has received consistently Evangelical Free Church the focus on our vision and mission, high marks from the student surveys of Canada on increasing student enrolment and done by the Globe and Mail and by making changes in administrative departments MacLean’s. King’s has been a leader in its including the creation of Advancement, and a strong sector with “top of the class” grades for Studentfocus on fiscal stewardship. Faculty Interaction, Class Size, Quality of Teaching and Most Satisfied Students in the Globe & Mail Canadian University “We are thankful for the excellent leadership that he has given Report. King’s received top marks in the entire country for to King’s during his tenure,” says Board Chair Bill Diepeveen. nurturing students as reported in MacLean’s magazine. As “In his years at King’s, Dr. Fernhout has led the development well there have been many program successes including, the of a comprehensive five-year Strategic Plan and created a environmental studies program being granted professional decentralized leadership structure in a positive climate of accreditation from Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) support and recognition. “ (the first program of its kinds to receive this commendation in Canada), Education faculty saw the addition of the secondary education program, Politics-History-Economics (PHE) program was created, and Computing Science was restructured with the hiring of new professors. The King’s Connection /// Fall 2012 /// 7