AIIAS celebrates the installation of Ginger Ketting-Weller, PhD, as the institution’s eighth president.
Before an audience made up of Seventh-day Adventist leaders from around the world, as well as faculty, staff, alumni, local governments, President Ginger Ketting-Weller, PhD, said she is privileged to lead and contribute as God opens up ways for her to do so at AIIAS.
“AIIAS was established by God. I am here to give my best effort,” said Ketting-Weller, in her installation response. Central to her message was her commitment to achieving the mission of AIIAS “to develop leaders through distinctively Seventh-day Adventist graduate education excelling in spirituality, scholarship, and service.”
The installation ceremony held in the Siew Huy Auditorium on the AIIAS campus last Friday, November 16, 2019, included students bearing their flags, representing 53 countries of AIIAS’ diverse student body.
The keynote address was given by Ella S. Simmons, EdD, chair of AIIAS Board of Trustees and General Vice President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters, who also led the installation and presentation of symbols of authority.
“We hope that today this ceremony puts you in the right frame of mind… to prepare you to receive what God has prepared for you and AIIAS,” said Simmons.
In her response message, Dr. Ketting-Weller acknowledged those ‘who have nurtured and given strength’ to her so far, specifically the members of the AIIAS Board of Trustees, the AIIAS vice presidents, and the deans.
“We are part of something bigger than ourselves, part of what God wants to do in the Philippines, to spread His message to the world,” said Dr. Ketting-Weller. “What a privilege to be part of that, established in that, have support from around us!”
During the installation proper, former president Dr. Stephen Guptill placed the presidential medallion on the new president. He also presented to her other symbols of authority such as the AIIAS mace, AIIAS seal, and a copy of Presidential Decree No. 2021, which established AIIAS in 1986.
The installation ceremony was part of a three-day celebration which focused on a central theme of preparing leaders for mission. The series of services was well-attended by more than 1,200 people altogether, starting with a consecration on Thursday, followed by the Installation ceremony on Friday and culminating on Sabbath morning with the worship service.
During the Sabbath worship, Ketting-Weller highlighted the importance of developing leaders through testimony, scripture, and guidance—which echoes the three functions listed in the AIIAS Mission, namely, spirituality, scholarship, and service.
“We need to be a community that gently but actively invites one another to better faithful leadership. Our openness to receiving guidance could develop faithful leadership in us that will contribute to the mission God has given us to accomplish…” said Dr. Ketting-Weller. “We have reason to hope, we have faith in the future.”
Ketting-Weller’s installation marks the next step in her 25-year career in higher education including serving as a professor of teacher education at Pacific Union College from 1994-2001, followed by one year as Associate Vice President and then ten years as Vice President for Academic Administration at Walla Walla University from 2001- 2012.
Before coming to AIIAS, Dr. Ketting-Weller served for seven years as Dean of the School of Education at La Sierra University, where she oversaw graduate programs in Education and developed a PhD program in Leadership. She began her service as President of AIIAS on August 1, 2019.
Ginger is married to Dr. Jim C Weller, principal of AIIAS Academy and faculty member in the Education Department.
