Tabor’s new VP of Academic Affairs
Tabor College has named Dale Lemke, Ph.D., its new vice president of academic affairs. Lemke comes to Tabor from the University of Northwestern—St. Paul (Minn.), where he most recently served as professor of Christian ministry and department chair in the College of Professional Studies.
He succeeds Frank Johnson, Ph.D., who will conclude his time as provost and move to his new role as vice president of advancement in summer 2025.
“I am deeply grateful for the Lord’s leading to Tabor and to further its commitment to a decidedly Christian education and academic excellence,” Lemke said. “I couldn’t be more excited to provide leadership to the college’s outstanding faculty and fostering student success as we cultivate our mission of preparing them for a life of learning, work, and service for Christ and His kingdom.”
Lemke’s curriculum and professional development commitment highlighted his eight-year stint at Northwestern-St. Paul.
In addition to his on-campus faculty and administrative roles, Lemke added leadership roles in adult undergraduate ministry and multiple master’s programs. He helped launch its M.A. in ministry leadership, oversaw its M.Div., and moved the adult undergraduate ministry program to a virtual, blended format. He led the effort to pursue accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools.
As department chair, Lemke oversaw curriculum redesign, led and executed multiple grant projects, developed accelerated graduate degree pathways, and supervised assessment planning for all department majors.
Lemke participated in the Leadership Development Institute of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) in 2023, confirming his desire and sense of calling to serve in academic administration.
“We’re thrilled that Dr. Lemke’s passion for Christian higher education has led him to Tabor,” President David Janzen, Ph.D., said. “With over two decades of experience in higher education and bi-vocational ministry, he brings a tremendous vision for supporting our academic initiatives and ushering in this next season on our campus.”
Before his time in St. Paul, Lemke taught in the School of Online Studies & Graduate School at Crown College (Minn.). He also taught courses in Bible and theology at Nyack College (N.Y.), English as a foreign language at Meisei University in Tokyo, Japan, and was a lecturer at Ball State University (Ind.)
Lemke earned his B.A. in Bible and pastoral ministry from Grace University (Neb.). He completed two master’s degrees, including an M.Div., in intercultural studies from Alliance Theological Seminary (N.Y.) and an M.A. in applied linguistics from the University of Massachusetts-Boston (Ma.). He earned his Ph.D. in education studies emphasizing higher education leadership and administration, from the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University (Calif.).
He assumes leadership of Tabor academics amidst thriving undergraduate programming, which includes over 30 on-campus majors and the most recent additions of computer science and nursing through a partnership with Hesston College (Kan.). Graduate programming also hit record enrollment in back-to-back spring semesters, reaching 109 students in its M.B.A. (four concentrations) and M.Ed. in Neuroscience & Trauma.
“I look forward to leading Tabor’s diverse offerings through its undergraduate and graduate programming,” Lemke said. “From my first conversation with President Janzen, I saw his dynamic commitment to the college’s mission and that God is doing something special through the people at Tabor.”
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Established in 1908 and located in Hillsboro, Kan., Tabor College is a liberal arts college affiliated with the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.