Dr. David W. Andrews, who secured top national rankings for the Johns Hopkins School of Education, will now lead California’s second largest private, nonprofit university
San Diego, Calif. – Jan. 6, 2016 – National University, a leader in serving adult learners and working professionals, is pleased to announce that Dr. David W. Andrews, Dean and Professor of the top-ranked School of Education at Johns Hopkins University, has been named President effective April 1, 2016. The appointment marks a new chapter for National University, which is California’s second-largest, private nonprofit university, and has grown to include more than two dozen campuses and house one of the Top Ten largest schools of education in the country.
“Dr. Andrews is a highly-respected leader and visionary who is passionate about transforming higher education through innovation, collaboration and providing an exceptional student experience,” said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, who has served as Chancellor of the National University System and President of National University since 2013. “We are excited to have him join National University as we enter a new era of growth and become a truly national university.”
In his new position, Dr. Andrews will assume presidential duties from Dr. Cunningham, who is taking on a more expansive role as Chancellor of the National University System, a network of universities and colleges. National University, the system’s flagship university, was founded in 1971, serves 30,000 students annually and has more than 230,000 alumni. The University offers more than 75 programs throughout its campuses in California and Nevada, and is also considered a leader in online education.
Dr. Andrews brings a proven track record in transformative and collaborative leadership with experience overseeing multi-campus programs, serving online students, and executing “smart growth” strategies in enrollment management and program development. Through his leadership, the Johns Hopkins University School of Education established a reputation for quality and results that earned it the #1 ranking two years in a row by U.S. News and World Report. He also cultivated new and existing partnerships with educators, elected officials, and business and community leaders to support institutional goals. While at Johns Hopkins University, he consistently exceeded fundraising expectations, raising annual averages to $10 million a year.
“I am honored to assume the leadership of National University during this exciting and transformative time within the higher education sector,” said Dr. Andrews. “I look forward to creating strong partnerships both within the university and with community groups and organizations that share our dedication to providing adult learners with access to an affordable, high-quality education that has the power to transform individual lives and our regional economies.”
Dr. Andrews brings more than three decades of higher education experience in a range of academic and educational leadership posts, and he has dedicated his career to enhancing opportunities for children and youth by strengthening families, communities, and schools. He is a founding member of Deans for Impact – a group of leading educators committed to developing more effective teacher preparation program – and he has published extensively in top scholarly journals. In addition to his current post as Dean of the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University, he holds a professorial appointment in the Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health at the University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. He previously worked at The Ohio State University where he led the merger of the College of Education with the College of Human Ecology and became the founding dean of the newly merged college. Also at OSU, he was founding director of the Center for Learning Excellence. Prior to then, he has held professorship posts at Oregon State University, where he also served as Head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
Dr. Andrews has been the recipient of numerous awards including Friend of the Education Industry Award (2012); Florida State Colleges Association, Alumnus of the Year (2011); and Champion of Children Award (2008) Columbus, OH. His recent community service includes serving on the boards of organizations such as United Way of Central Maryland, YMCA of Central Maryland, and Godman Guild Settlement House, Columbus, OH. He holds his bachelor’s in Psychology at Auburn University, and M.S. from Kansas State University in Child Development and a Ph.D. in Child Development from Florida State University.
About National University
Founded in 1971, National University is the second-largest private, nonprofit institution of higher education in California. With 30,000 students and more than 230,000 alumni, National University is the flagship institution of the National University System. National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of students. Four schools and two colleges – the College of Letters and Sciences; the Sanford College of Education; the School of Business and Management; the School of Engineering and Computing; the School of Health and Human Services; and the School of Professional Studies – offer more than 75 graduate and undergraduate degrees and 23 teacher credentials. Programs are offered at locations throughout California and across the nation, and are also available online. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California.
About the National University System
The National University System, a network of accredited nonprofit education institutions serving higher education and K-12 students, includes National University, John F. Kennedy University, City University of Seattle, WestMed College, National University Virtual High School and the National University Academy. Established in 2001 to meet the emerging challenges and demands of education in the 21st Century, the network’s complementary universities offer pathways for students to attain professional and terminal degrees through quality and innovative programs delivered in a format that is flexible to the needs of adult learners.