After 28 years of service, Volker Henning, Associate Vice President for Academic Administration (AVPAA), Ph.D., is leaving Southern Adventist University to become the AVPAA at Walla Walla University.
Henning has held many positions here on campus. Before working with the academic administration, where he was in charge of Southern's accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), he was as an associate professor before becoming professor for and then dean of the School of Journalism and Communications (SJC). While there, Henning taught many classes, including Introduction to Photography, Mass Media Law and Ethics, Video Production and Intro to Public Speaking.
Many SJC staff members were his students and remember his time as their professor. “Volker Henning was my first professor back in 1989,” says Andy Nash, Ph.D. and graduate of the class of 1989. “I’ve always admired Dr. Henning as a professor, colleague, and friend. He’s a man of integrity, humility, and good humor.”
Henning not only touched those that he taught, but even those he came in contact with. “I never had the privilege of taking class from Dean Henning, but I do remember that students loved him and know he is much beloved by former and current faculty of SJC,” said Natalia-Lopez Thismón, professor for SJC and alumni for the class of 2008.
Henning said it will be hard to leave all the friends that he has made over the years here at Southern. The defining factor in choosing to accept employment at Walla Walla was that he is following what he believes is God’s plan for his life.
“I’ve never really sought out any of those positions” says Henning. “I wasn’t looking for change, but in the way it came the Lord had something special for me to do there [Walla Walla].”
Until administration can fill the position full time, Tyson Hall, a current professor for the School of Computing will hold the position as interim.
