Wayne D. Lewis, Jr.

With 20 years of experience in education, higher education leadership is a calling for President Lewis. He came to Houghton from Belmont University where he served as the inaugural Dean of the School of Education. Lewis has also served as the Commissioner of Education for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, overseeing an agency with over 1,100 employees and a $5 billion annual budget while also a faculty member at the University of Kentucky. Prior to that, he taught in K-12 public schools of Louisiana and North Carolina.

Lewis is recognized as being a champion for students; focusing on improving educational access, opportunities, and experiences for students, including those who have historically been underserved. An excellent match for Houghton College and the vision of their founder, Willard Houghton, who recognized how a life-bringing Christian faith, together with a high-quality education, could alter the trajectory of a person’s life.