Daniel Parham

Background

About Daniel Parham

At the heart of everything I do is a call to build people and cultivate spaces where others can thrive—whether in a university setting, a local church, or a community in need of hope. For over a decade, I’ve served in Christian higher education, having led at Biola University and Indiana Wesleyan University. From overseeing retention strategies, Title IX responses, supporting student care, and advocating for beautifully diverse communities, I’ve been privileged to walk alongside students in some of their most formative moments, especially those navigating the journey as first-generation, underrepresented, or marginalized individuals. But beyond administrative titles and strategy work, I’m a minister at heart. As an ordained Elder in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), I teach, preach, provide pastoral care, and serve with joy locally and nationally. Whether serving families through our Open Arms Family Outreach nonprofit, delivering a chapel message, co-hosting #PowerUp for COGIC’s International Sunday School Department, or participating on The Two Cities podcast, my goal is simple: to reflect and see God in every space I enter. Now pursuing my Master of Divinity as a Black Church Studies Fellow at Duke Divinity School, I’m continually seeking new ways to bridge leadership, faith, education, and justice—so students and communities alike can encounter transformation, not only in their own lives, but in generations to come.