La Sierra University to Inaugurate First Black President

La Sierra University is set to make history on May 20 as it inaugurates Dr. Christon Arthur as its sixth president. Arthur, who took office on July 1, 2024, will become the first Black leader in the university's 103-year history.

The inauguration ceremony kicks off at 11 a.m. at the La Sierra University Church. Campus and community leaders, including Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and Riverside Community College District Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac, will be on hand to offer their greetings.

Andrea Luxton, president emerita of Andrews University and associate director of higher education for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, is slated to give the inaugural address.

The official installation of the president will be carried out by Bradford Newton, who chairs the La Sierra University Board of Trustees and serves as president of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Since taking the helm, Arthur has been busy. He's launched initiatives to boost transparency, inclusivity, and community engagement. He's also put money into strategic marketing and enrollment efforts, and kicked off a planning process to sharpen the university's core purpose.

Under Arthur's leadership, the university continues to be driven by its mission "To Seek, To Know, and To Serve," with a special focus on helping students deepen their relationship with God.

Before coming to La Sierra, Arthur spent eight years as provost at Andrews University in Michigan. There, he managed a $70 million academic budget and oversaw a total enrollment of about 10,000 students.

La Sierra University, established in 1922, now offers more than 120 degree programs across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.