ABHE Staff
Philip E. Dearborn, Ed.D.
Dr. Philip E. Dearborn is the president of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). ABHE serves over 150 institutions of biblical higher education across North America enrolling 65,000 students. Philip earned his undergraduate degree from a Bible college and his Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to leading ABHE, he served as Provost of Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School. He has over 26 years of higher education leadership experience including teaching at the Ph.D. level. His research interests include organizational theory, leadership development, and board governance. Philip and his wife, Amy, have three adult children.
David S. Medders, M.Div.
David has served on the ABHE team since 2009 after serving nineteen years as president of Kingswood University in New Brunswick, Canada. As Executive Vice President, he gives oversight to the Annual Meeting, directs the leadership development initiatives of the Association, and serves as chief development officer to expand association resource and revenue streams. David also assists President Dearborn in support of fulfilling the strategic vision of ABHE.
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Lisa L. Beatty, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Commission on Accreditation
Dr. Lisa Beatty of Dubuque, Iowa has recently been named Director of the ABHE Commission on Accreditation effective July 1, 2021. Dr. Beatty will replace the current director, Dr. Ron Kroll, who is retiring after nine years in the role.
Dr. Beatty has extensive service in higher education and higher education administration. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies from the University of Iowa, where her doctoral research focused on institutional outcomes of the accreditation process.
Carol Dibble
Chief of Staff & Director of Communications
Carol joined the ABHE Team in 1998. She oversees day-to-day office operations; ABHE website and social media platforms; general management of the ABHE Annual Meeting, leadership development conferences and special events; as well as ABHE communications.
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M. Shane Wood, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Commission on Accreditation
Dr. M. Shane Wood is an experienced evaluation team chair and evaluation team trainer for ABHE, and has served at three ABHE institutions over the past 15 years. Dr. Wood has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (Regent University), M.Div. in New Testament (Lincoln Christian University), and a B.Th. in New Testament (Ozark Christian College).
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Michael D. Jackson, Ed.D.
Substantive Change Officer & Research Associate
ABHE Commission on Accreditation
Michael serves as the Substantive Change Officer and Research Associate for the Commission on Accreditation. He holds an Ed.D. from Union University in Educational Leadership (Higher Education). He has served in an ABHE institution for the last 13 years, including service as an Evaluation Team Member for 8 years.
Darby Blanchard
Digital & Administrative Services Coordinator
Darby joined the ABHE team in September 2020 after 14 years of working along side her husband in their counseling practice: Discovery Counseling of Orlando. She has a Bachelors in Health Sciences from Ball State University and has worked in healthcare administration for many years. She is now serving as the Digital & Administrative Services Coordinator along side The Association Team in Leadership Development Conferences, Annual Meetings, Honor Society and various other aspects of the daily operations for ABHE.
Ronald Kroll, Ed.D.
Commission Staff Representative
Ron serves as retired Director of the Commission on Accreditation. Comprising over 150 member and affiliate institutions throughout North America, ABHE colleges engage students in ministerial and professional leadership education that is distinctively biblical, transformational, experiential, and missional.
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Kim Latsa
Accreditation Services Assistant
Kim joined the ABHE team in April 2015. Kim served with Campus Crusade for Christ from 1987 to 2010–Campus Director, Regional Director, Chief of Staff for National Campus Director, and Leadership Placement Coordinator. She is a mother of two and has been a Women’s Ministry Coordinator at LifeSong Church in East Orlando since leaving Cru to raise a family. Kim has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Bowling Green State and a certificate from CCC’s International School of Theology.
Sarah Starks, M.M.
Accreditation Services Coordinator
Sarah joined the ABHE team in July 2019. Prior to this she was a school teacher in Manitoba (Canada) and North Carolina, teaching elementary grades and music to all grades. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Southern Wesleyan University (South Carolina) and a Master of Music degree from Stephen F. Austin State University (Texas).
Kathy VanScoter
Kathy joined the ABHE team in 2001. She handles all accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, account reconciliation, financial statements and budget, as well as personnel and Association insurance.
Prior to her work at ABHE, Kathy was an Administrative Assistant for seven years at Colonial Management Group (CMG), ensuring that all license requirements at each of CMG’s out-patient narcotic treatment centers were in compliance. Kathy and her husband, Mark, are grateful to be blessed with three children – Matthew, Audrey and Chad, and two grandchildren.