Azusa Pacific University President Adam J. Morris, PhD, has named David Shynn, MBA, as vice president of the newly formed Division of Strategy, Enrollment, and Engagement (SEE). Shynn assumes leadership of this division effective immediately, bringing innovative practices and holistic alignment to the university’s primary engine for institutional growth.
“Following several months of deep prayer and discernment, I am thrilled to announce that I have asked David Shynn to assume permanent leadership of the newly formed Strategy, Enrollment, and Engagement division,” Morris said. “David has been the primary architect and steward of our strategic plan, The Nehemiah Initiative, focusing his talents on optimizing our business model for a sustainable future. Beyond being data-driven and outcomes-oriented, David is a deeply trusted member of our APU family.”
As the head of the SEE, Shynn will assume vital Enrollment Management responsibilities. He will provide strategic leadership and direction to attract students to APU’s richly diverse Christian university campus, community, and culture. Collaborating with key stakeholders, Shynn will lead the design, development, and implementation of a comprehensive and innovative strategic enrollment plan.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to lead the newly integrated Division of Strategy, Enrollment, and Engagement,” Shynn said.
In his continuing role steering university strategy, Shynn will help design and implement APU’s strategic roadmap. He is tasked with building a plan that operationalizes and accelerates APU's vision, providing clear lines of ownership, measurable targets, and timetables to gauge effectiveness, increase revenue, and position the university for growth and flourishing. To collaboratively ensure APU’s academic offerings meet emerging needs, Shynn will partner with the Provost’s office and use market research to identify programs that build upon APU’s strengths and have the greatest potential for positive impact. Furthermore, he will monitor near- and long-term trends affecting higher education to forecast future opportunities, while providing collaborative leadership to regional campuses and enhancing APU's approach to online education through ongoing partnership with Los Angeles Pacific University. Shynn will also lead the development of APU’s Campus Master Plan, as the university strategically improves utilization of its East and West Campuses in Azusa for an optimal student experience. In overseeing APU’s Department of Marketing, Communication, and Engagement, Shynn will ensure that all university-wide brand cohesion across all channels of engagement.
Prior to joining APU, Shynn served as vice president for transformation at Biola University, where he worked closely with enrollment management to bring strategy, innovation, and discipline to the university’s main revenue generator.
Shynn holds a Master of Business Administration from Biola University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine. He has completed executive education in change and organizational renewal at Stanford University and management and leadership in education at Harvard University.