David and Karen Janzen
David and Karen Janzen
Tabor’s 14th President & First Lady

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about what God is doing on our campus. Serving as president is a tremendous blessing, and I wanted to offer a glimpse of what is so special about the Tabor experience. 

We want to be the college of choice for students who seek a life-transforming, academically excellent, globally relevant, and decidedly Christian education. We have set a new academic standard, and our students have responded with resounding success. We know the Lord will continue to shine through our student body as they deepen their relationship with Him, and grow in the classroom and in competition. 

With 23 majors and two master’s programs, opportunity awaits students who seek to stand out in the workplace. Our professors are leaders in their field and are all in toward providing a transformative academic experience.

An engaging campus community is enhanced by 19 varsity sports (Go Bluejays!), and 22 campus clubs and organizations. We’ve seen nearly 30 student-led bible studies arise as well. We’re seeing the kingdom of God thrive on our campus, and we’re thankful for the students, alumni, faculty, and staff that have helped Tabor flourish since its inception in 1908.

David Janzen, Ph.D.
Tabor College President

About Dr. Janzen

David Janzen, Ph.D.

Dr. Janzen is a 1990 graduate of Tabor, majoring in mathematics and computer science. He was a full-time faculty member at California Polytechnic State University from 2006-21, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. He served as its software engineering coordinator in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering.

He was also adjunct faculty in computer science at Westmont College in Montecito, Calif., from August to December 2020. He previously worked in the software industry with Sprint from 1993-97, then taught at Bethel College from 1997-2006 and the University of Kansas from 1991-93 and 2004-06. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in computer science during his stay in Lawrence, Kan.

He is the co-founder of Steadfast Innovation LLC, which created the handwriting note-taking application, Squid for Android and ChromeOS pen-based devices. Squid has over five million downloads, is a Google Play Editor’s Choice, and was featured by Google as one of the top eight applications for education. The application led to strategic partnerships across the technology industry, including Microsoft and Google, among others.

Dr. Janzen Talks

“Lean into a New Way of Living”Tabor College Chapel, 8/28/21
“Compelled by Grace, Called to Obedience, Christ in Us”Dr. Janzen Address, Inauguration, 9/24/21
“Career or Calling, Asking the Right Questions” Exaudio: Listen & Live, 2/2/22
“The Paradox of Christian Entrepreneurship”Exaudio: Listen & Live, 2/3/22
“Dealing with Anxiety”Hillsboro MB Church, 7/31/22
“Artificial Intelligence and the Tabor Seal”Tabor College Chapel, 8/16/23
“Understanding AI”Reedley MB Church, 11/19/23

He has published 38 peer-reviewed journal or conference papers and has been awarded over $1M in research or outreach funding including three NSF grants. His research has spanned from empirical studies of software engineering practices to innovation and analysis of pedagogical techniques. His Ph.D. dissertation examined Test-Driven Development, resulting in a top three placement in the Grand Finals of the ACM Student Research Competition. He served as a Faculty Fellow with Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and as a technology consultant with the San Luis Obispo Small Business Development Center.

Janzen is a native of Independence Kan., and Enid, Okla. His wife Karen attended Tabor College (1986-88) before graduating from Fresno Pacific University (1990) and obtaining a Master of Music in choral conducting from Northern Arizona University (1992).  All four of their parents and each of their siblings, four total, also attended the school. Their oldest son Alexander is a recent Bluejay graduate (2017) and is the oldest of four adult children, including June, Simon, and Amber.

Executive Team

David Janzen, Ph.D.
President

Ron Braun
Vice President of Philanthropy

Cathy Castle, M.S.
Vice President of Business & Finance

President’s Cabinet

Ron Braun
Vice President of Philanthropy

Cathy Castle, M.S.
Vice President of Business & Finance

David Ediger, M.S.
Athletic Director

Ian Thomson, M.S.
Dean of Student Life, Learning & Formation

Terry Ens
Director of Facilities

Frank Johnson, Ph.D.
Provost

Wendell Loewen, D.Min.
Special Assistant to the President for Constituent Engagement/Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture

Diane Oborny
Senior Graphic Designer

Chris Pruitt, M.A.
Interim Dean of Enrollment

Gregory Zielke, D.M.A.
Arts Director/Professor of Music/Director of Choirs

Board of Directors

Susan Franz Koslowsky (g’84)
Chair

Ted Faszer
Secretary

Jeral Gross
Treasurer

Roger Ediger (g’77)
Executive At Large

Craig Ratzlaff (g’87)
Executive At Large

Orson Thomas (g’09)
Executive At-Large

Derek Hamm
Faculty Representative

Alyvia Owens (cs)
Student Representative

Eric Driggers (g’01)

Norris Friesen (g’72)

Aaron Garza (g’14)

Vonda Graf (g’91)

Melissa Gutierrez

Brian Harris

Andrew Jost (g’05)

Noelle Jost (g’88)

Kelly Kirby (g’90)

Nate Loewen (g’80)

Sylvia Penner (g’99)

Craig Quiring (g’96)

Pat Redding (g’87)

Daniel Rodriguez

Elaine Setzer-Maxwell

Jerome Wichert (g’86)

Denise Wiens (g’83)

The Board of Directors is charged by the owners of Tabor College – the churches of the Central, Southern, Latin American, and Eastern district conferences of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches – to assure that the mission of the college is being fulfilled, to establish policies which will guide the faculty and staff in providing programs and services, to appoint a chief executive (president) to implement their policies and manage programs, and to monitor the effectiveness of all programs and services. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Board of Directors meets at least three times per year. They work in committees to monitor the affairs of the college, receive reports from the president regarding the operations of the college and evaluate the performance of the president. These meetings assure that the mission of Tabor College is being fulfilled and the policies are being properly administered.