April 8, 2009

President of Wesley College to Speak at Governor’s Prayer Breakfast

DOVER -- Governor Jack Markell announced Wednesday that Dr. William N. Johnston, president of Wesley College in Dover, will be the keynote speaker for the 49th Annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast.

“Dr. Johnston has devoted his professional career to improving higher education and working hard to ensure that his students graduate college prepared to succeed,” Gov. Markell said. “His dedicated efforts certainly reflect this year’s Prayer Breakfast theme of ‘Service Beyond Self.’ I’m honored that Dr. Johnston has agreed to be our speaker.”

Prior to accepting the presidency of Wesley College, Dr. Johnston was president of Iowa Wesleyan College for six years. He has also served as vice president for institutional advancement at Bethany College in West Virginia, vice president for development at David & Elkins College in West Virginia and associate vice president for enrollment management at West Virginia Wesleyan College. He began he professional career at Ashland University in Ohio where he served in a number of different leadership capacitates over nine years.

Dr. Johnston earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Westminster College in Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green University in Ohio, and his doctorate in education from West Virginia University. He also completed additional study at The Harvard University of Educational Management and at St. Anthony’s College in the University of Oxford.  Dr. Johnston and his wife, Susan, have two children and one grandchild.

The Governor’s Prayer Breakfast will be held on May 7th at 7 a.m. (doors open at 6:30 a.m.) at the Modern Maturity Center at 1121 Forrest Avenue in Dover. Tickets are $16. Please contact Betty McFarland at (302) 735-4035 for tickets and additional information.