Azusa Pacific University Provost Anita Fitzgerald Henck, PhD, named Quincy, MA resident William McCoy, PhD, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Theology (CAHST), effective July 1, 2025. McCoy brings more than 15 years of education experience to the role with expertise in African history and higher education administration, including strategic planning, policy formation, and curricular initiatives.
“I am delighted by the appointment of Dr. William (Bill) McCoy to serve as the inaugural dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Theology,” Henck said. “A man of deep faith and academic breadth, his leadership will strengthen the launch of this community of scholars, artists, researchers, staff, and students. His care for people, passion for Christian higher education, and administrative acumen are a powerful combination with the launch of this new college. We look forward to welcoming him to the APU community!”
As dean of the CAHST, McCoy is responsible for the leadership, planning, direction, and management of the full range of undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the college. He will collaboratively and creatively advance the scholarship, research, and faith integration for a dynamic learning community. McCoy will create a unified identity for the college, fostering a sense of community and belonging across schools and departments, focusing on recruiting, developing, and retaining a diverse faculty and staff, continuing to build financially viable programs, and representing the college with internal and external stakeholders.
“From the very start of this process, the decision to join the work at APU has felt like a joyful response to God’s vocational calling on my life to serve in Christian higher education,” McCoy said. “The opportunity to offer my gifts and experience to help build the College of Arts, Humanities, Science, and Theology into the beating heart of a university rooted in the Wesleyan tradition and dedicated to producing graduates who live as ambassadors of Christ is one that I cannot wait to begin and that fills my heart with gratitude."
McCoy previously served as the chief academic and accreditation liaison officer for Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) from 2020-24. In this role, he served on ENC’s President’s Cabinet as the representative of the whole academic program; led the Academic Leadership Team; supervised the library, Registrar’s Office, Office of Institutional Research, and the Office of Spiritual Development; led an academic program prioritization process; collaborated with human resources and program chairs to recruit, hire, and review faculty; collaborated with the director of Curriculum Development and Assessment to revise institutional learning goals; collaborated with the Admissions Office and Student Life to enhance recruiting and retention efforts; and supervised submission of ENC’s 10-year comprehensive accreditation review.
Prior to these roles, McCoy served as an ENC faculty member teaching African and European history, becoming a full professor in 2020. He was the recipient of ENC’s 2015 Teaching Excellence Award and twice offered travel courses to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), focused on the history of medical missions. He also served terms as the chair of the history department, division of general education, and honors program.
McCoy holds a PhD in African History with additional specialities in modern British history and anthropology from Boston University (BU). He also holds an MA from BU in African History and a BA in History from Point Loma Nazarene University. His dissertation Healing the Leper? Mission Christianity, medicine, and social dependence in 20th century Swaziland led to multiple publications in industry journals.
Through excellent programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, and theology, CAHST prepares students for vocational success, advanced study, community engagement, and a well-lived life. APU offers a wide range of major and minor undergraduate degree programs along with numerous discipline-specific honors societies, and several graduate degree options.
Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution on the West Coast, equips students to become compassionate leaders who impact the world for Christ. APU offers 66 bachelor’s degrees, 40 master’s degrees, 32 certificates and credentials, and 9 doctoral programs to more than 6,500 students at the university’s main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. Learn more at apu.edu.