Olivet Nazarene University’s President John C. Bowling has announced the promotion of Dr. David Pickering ’89/’94 M.B.A. to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective Jan. 1, 2019.
“Dr. David Pickering is exceptionally well-qualified to assume this important role,” said Dr. Bowling. “He is a gifted leader who has strong academic credentials and more than 25 years of University administrative experience. He is highly regarded by the faculty and staff.”
Dr. Pickering is assuming the leadership of the University’s Office of Financial Affairs as well as continuing to provide senior administrative support and leadership. He is the senior executive responsible for assisting the University President and Administrative Team with creating, communicating, executing and sustaining strategic initiatives. He also provides senior leadership to the administrative areas of the University, including human resources, accounting and finance, information technology, student accounts, administrative services, physical plant and financial aid.
“I’ve been privileged to serve at ONU with some wonderful colleagues,” Dr. Pickering said. “I look forward to building on the work of those who have come before me as we continue to prepare our students for lives of service to God and humanity.”
Since he joined the Administrative Team in 2017, Dr. Pickering has led the University in a comprehensive review and update of the school’s strategic plan, Vision 2022. He facilitated a wide-ranging space utilization study and has led several administrative working groups related to financial sustainability, increased revenue opportunities, and campus facilities.
Prior to 2017, Dr. Pickering served as Olivet’s director of business and human resources for 12 years, and director of student accounts and business services for 15 years. His work has contributed significantly to the healthy growth and development of the University. Olivet was recognized as a Best Christian Workplace every year during Dr. Pickering’s tenure in Office of Human Resources. The benefit program for the University has also continued to be enhanced in order to recruit and retain highly skilled employees.
He is a member of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) and the Association of Business Administrators of Christian Colleges (ABACC). In 1995, he was honored as Olivet’s Staff Member of the Year.
Dr. Pickering is involved in many community and church activities. He leads a weekly teenage basketball Bible Club in his community, is active in his local church, and takes regular mission trips to Nigeria, Africa.
He received his Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) in 2016 from Northcentral University. His M.B.A. (Finance and Financial Management Services) and B.A. (Finance) degrees are from Olivet.
Dr. Pickering and his wife, Emeline, are the parents of eight children. Five of their children have graduated from Olivet: Nicholas ’12 and Christopher ’12/’14 M.O.L. as engineering majors; Emilie ’14, an early childhood and elementary education major; Daniel ’15, an accounting and finance major; and Brian ’15, a biology/pre-med major. Joshua, Caleb and Nathan haven’t arrived at Olivet yet. The Pickerings have been blessed with eight grandchildren.
Published: 12/10/2018
