Dr. Robert G. Duffett became the 19th President of Dakota Wesleyan University on July 1, 2000.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Dr. Duffett attended Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976 from Bethel College in St. Paul, Minn. His majors were psychology and Greek. Dr. Duffett continued his education by earning a Master of Divinity degree from Bethel Theological Seminary in 1980 and Master of Theology degree in 1981 from Princeton Theological Seminary. His Ph.D. degree, from the University of Iowa, focused on organizational theory/management and historical theology.

From 1981 to 1984, Dr. Duffett served as the pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1984 he returned to his alma mater, Bethel College, to serve as the dean of Christian faith and life, followed by a position as director of doctoral studies and associate professor of theology and communication at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Ill., from 1990 to 1996. While there, he was also the senior pastor of Skokie Valley Baptist Church in Wilmette, Ill. His most recent position was as provost and academic dean at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan. At Ottawa he was the chief academic and administrative officer of the flagship campus and led a strategic planning process that focused on institutional vision, academic quality, student recruiting and discounting.

Dr. Duffett has published a variety of works in professional theological journals and magazines in the areas of spirituality, psychology and professional education. In 1995 he published "A Relevant Word: Communicating the Gospel to Seekers," where he explains how cultural change during this century, and especially since World War II, has shaped people's values, world views and expectations.

Dr. Duffett's community service contributions include serving on the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, the board of trustees of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City and the board of directors of the American Baptist Churches of the Central Region. Since moving to Mitchell, Dr. Duffett has been involved with the Middle Border Museum, the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and the First United Methodist Church.

Dr. Duffett and his wife, Connie, are the parents of two children, David and Allison.