H. David Brandt
H. David Brandt served as the academic dean and academic vice president of Messiah College during a time of significant growth and maturation (1977-1988), particularly with respect to the expansion of Messiah’s academic curriculum, campus facilities and external programs. An educator and practitioner in the field of physics, Dr. Brandt was a research and development engineer for the Raytheon Company and ITT, and served on the physics faculty of Wheaton College (IL) and Gordon College (MA), prior to coming to Messiah. After serving for 11 years as Messiah’s chief academic officer, Dr. Brandt went on to serve as provost at Bethel University (MN), and then as president of Tabor College (KS) and George Fox University (OR) before retiring from higher education.
Dr. Brandt earned his bachelor’s in physics from Wheaton College, and both his master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from the University of Oklahoma. He currently lives in Mechanicsburg, Pa., with his wife, Melva; they have two married sons, David and Stephen, and five grandchildren. Dr. Brandt continues to serve Messiah as a member of President Kim Phipps’ President’s Leadership Council, a group of alumni, parents and community leaders who provide their experience, wisdom and expertise to help the University fulfill its Christian educational mission.