MEET THE TEAM
LEADERSHIP
Crown College President
Dr. Andrew Denton
As cultural trends and philosophical fads seem to be dominating this era in history, the need for Christian leaders—who are redeemed by Jesus Christ, deeply rooted in God’s Word, and empowered by the Holy Spirit—has never been greater. Crown College has been providing education and training that produces such leaders for more than 106 years. I am honored to serve as the 17th president of Crown as we continue to build upon the legacy of those that have gone before us.
When we live our lives in Christ, challenges foster a wonderful dependence upon Him. I see tremendous opportunities for growth ahead and believe that with the Lord’s help, Crown College will soar in this season. We have outstanding faculty and staff committed to integrating learning and faith in an environment that empowers and equips students to excel in their calling in any field. We have students who pursue an authentic walk with the Lord that informs their lives spiritually, academically, and socially. And we have alumni and friends around the world who support this institution with their prayers and gifts, investing in the next generation of leaders.
Whether you are a student considering Crown, a parent who seeks to partner with a college that will develop (and not destroy) the seeds of faith and knowledge you have sown into your son or daughter, or a graduate or friend of the college who wants to help launch high-impact leaders, I invite you to be part of the Crown family. Great days are ahead!
Serving together,
Dr. Andrew Denton
President
Dr. Andrew Denton became the 17th President of Crown College on July 1, 2021. His experience in executive leadership in higher education, business acumen, and devotion to Christ have equipped him to be a high-impact leader for the next chapter in Crown’s story.
Dr. Denton’s educational background includes:
- Ph.D., Higher Education Administration, St. Louis University
- MBA, Missouri State University
- B.S., Business Administration: Marketing and Management, Evangel University
Dr. Denton is an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God Fellowship. He served as Associate Pastor of Timbercreek Community Church in Springfield, Missouri, from 2002–2006 and as a Deacon and volunteer youth minister at River Valley Church for the past several years.
Dr. Denton’s family background has deep roots in missions and education. His parents were educators (father an elementary school principal and mother a second-grade teacher) in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. His paternal grandparents were career missionaries in the Philippines.
Dr. Denton’s career in higher education began after he graduated from college when he served as an Admission Counselor at Evangel University. Within two years, he was promoted to Director of Admissions—a role that changed his life’s course through a relationship with Dr. Robert Spence, Evangel’s president. Several years later, when Dr. Denton served as a vice president at Evangel, Dr. Spence shared that he believed Andrew Denton had a call on his life to be a college president. A few years later, his call was confirmed when during a personal prayer and fasting retreat, Dr. Denton sensed the Lord telling him he would one day be a college president. “I didn’t know when,” Dr. Denton said, “and I didn’t know where, but I knew the call had come, and I just held that in my heart.” As it turns out, it would be 12 years before that call would come. In the meantime, he committed to being faithful wherever the Lord placed him.
Roles in higher education
- North Central University, Executive Vice President, 2018–2021
- North Central University, Adjunct Professor, College of Business and Technology, 2019–2021
- North Central University, Vice President for University Relations, 2015–2018
- Bethel University, Vice President for Enrollment Management, 2013–2017
- Evangel University, Vice President for Enrollment Management, 2006–2013
- Evangel University, Director of Admissions, 2000–2002
- Evangel University, Admission Counselor, 1998–2000
Andrew and Linda Biffert Denton met in college and have been married for 24 years. Linda earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Evangel University and a Masters’s in Organization Leadership at Trevecca Nazarene University. She is a fitness trainer, serves as a women’s ministry leader who teaches and writes curriculum, and is a speaker at ministry events and retreats.
The Dentons and their three high school children, Lexie (senior), Ashlyn (junior), and Drew (freshman), enjoy actively participating together in church life, attending the sporting events and activities of each child, traveling, and serial-watching their favorite shows. Dr. Denton has shared that while his kids are still at home, their interests are his hobbies. The family’s recent adventures include trips to Mexico, New York, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Florida and New England.
CROWN COLLEGE
Cabinet
Crown College has a dedicated and experienced team of professionals who oversee the College’s daily functions. We invite you to meet these leaders and learn about their backgrounds and interests.
Joel Johnson
VP of College Relations
Martha Swift
VP of Student Development
Dee McDonald
VP of Enrollment and Marketing
Dr. Chris Mathews
VP of Academic Affairs
Dr. Fawn McCracken
Chief Online Learning Officer
Jen Niska
Chief of Staff and Communications
Mike Price
Chief Operating Officer
Board of Trustees
Officer and Trustee rosters, effective July 2023
Greg Kummer
Chairman of the board
- Business Owner
- Norwood, MN
The Christian and Missionary Alliance District Representatives
Dr. Dan Scarrow
- North Central District Superintendent
- North Central District Representative
- Waconia, MN
Kimberly Thomas
- Secretary of the Board
- Rocky Mountain District Representative
- Treasurer, Evanston Alliance Church
- Office Manager, John A. Thomas Law Office
- Evanston, WY
Dr. Wang Lee
- Director, Hmong Christian Institute
- Hmong District Representative
- Thornton, CO
Dr. Juan Padilla
- Alliance South Central Representative
- Neurosurgeon
- Missions
- Teach in Church
- McAllen, TX
Eric Tompkins
- MidAmerica Representative
- Business Unit Leader, Golden Ridge Rice Mill
- Omaha, NE
Gordon Paisley
- Representative, Midwest District
- Senior Program Manager, United Airlines
- Roselle, IL
Pat Costello
- Western Great Lakes District Representative
- Certified Public Accountant
- Appleton, WI
Members at Large
Rev. Hector Belen
- Assistant Director, The Alliance Center for Leadership Development
- Parma, OH
Dr. Gary D. Friesen
- Vice President, Christian and Missionary Alliance
- Colorado Springs, CO
Dr. Arthur Hill
- John & Nancy Lindahl Professor Emeritus
- Carlson School of Management
- University of Minnesota
- Eden Prairie, MN
Rep. Jim Nash
- Minnesota House of Representatives – House District 47A
- Waconia, MN
Dr. Verna Cornelia Price
- CEO of The Power of People Consulting Group
- Minneapolis, MN
Bob Solfelt
- Vice Chairman of the Board
- Senior Vice President, Mortenson Development, Inc.
- Minneapolis, MN
Dale Teal
- Founder & Senior Financial Planner, Strategic Financial Concepts
- Ramsey, MN
Dr. May Vang
- Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
- Whitewater, WI
Joel Harmon
- Alumni Board President
- VP of Sales and Market Development for Polaris
- Maple Grove, MN
Bret Hyder
- Senior Project Manager, Jkath Design Build + Reinvent
- Minneapolis, MN
Choua Yang
- Consultant and Photographer
- Brooklyn Center, MN
Darril Holden
- Lead Pastor of Christ Community Church
- Rochester, MN
Why we exist.
We’ve been around for over 100 years. Though many things have changed, we still center back to these central tenets.
Mission Statement
The mission of Crown College is to provide a Biblically-based education for Christian leadership in The Christian and Missionary Alliance, the church-at-large, and the world.
Vision Statement
To be the Midwest’s boldly Christian college