HU Confers Four Honorary Doctorate Degrees
HU awards honorary doctorate degrees for first time since 2019
HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington University conferred four honorary doctorate degrees at this year’s commencement ceremonies earlier this month, with Brian Emerick, RuthAnn Price, David Rahn and Chant Thompson each receiving the honor. Emerick, Rahn and Thompson were honored at the home campus ceremonies on May 3 while Price was honored at Huntington University Arizona’s ceremony on May 9.
This year marks the first time Huntington University has conferred honorary doctorate degrees since 2019, with the practice initially paused due to COVID-19.
“The conferral of these degrees was put on hold during COVID, but it is important that HU resumed the conferral, to honor those with a connection to the University who exemplify Christ-centered service,” said Monte Lightner, chair of the Board of Trustees. “In addition to honoring deserving individuals, these conferrals also demonstrate to the public a different perspective on success.”
Each of this year’s honorary doctorate degree recipients exude Huntington University’s mission of Christ, scholarship and service.
Emerick is the founder of Micropulse, Inc., a leading manufacturer of orthopedic implants and surgical instruments based in Columbia City, Indiana. After gaining early career experience in the manufacturing industry, Emerick launched Micropulse from his garage in 1988. A respected leader in both business and community service, Emerick has dedicated nearly two decades to healthcare governance through service on the board of Parkview Health System for 18 years. He recently concluded nine years of service on the Board of Trustees of Huntington University. He currently serves on the boards of the Don Wood Foundation, Emmanuel Community Church and several for-profit medical device companies. Emerick is a seasoned entrepreneur, having founded or supported the launch of ten startups through his Orthovation business incubator, including Restoration Medical Polymers and Nanovis.
Price was raised in a United Brethren pastor’s home, grounded in a strong Christian heritage that shaped her lifelong commitment to faith and service. She graduated from Huntington College in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and began her career as a teacher. Sensing a deeper call to global ministry, she joined Wycliffe Bible Translators, embarking on a remarkable 45-year journey of missionary service. Throughout her tenure with Wycliffe, Price served in a wide range of roles across multiple countries, including the Philippines, Nepal, India, Kenya, Togo, Colombia and Mexico. Her cross-cultural impact reflects her deep dedication to the global Church and to the advancement of biblical literacy. Price served as missionary-in-residence at Huntington University beginning in 2003, where she taught, mentored and inspired students on the Indiana home campus. More recently, she has continued her legacy of service as a volunteer mentor and academic coach for students at Huntington University’s Arizona campus since 2019.
Rahn has devoted his life to advancing the mission of Youth For Christ (YFC), beginning with his own transformation through the organization. Through his ministry and by equipping and mentoring hundreds of youth leaders, he has impacted countless lives. His legacy is reflected in the many students who have come to faith and in the leaders he has empowered through education, authored works and strategic initiatives. A 1976 graduate of Huntington College, Rahn’s commitment to Christian higher education was evident during his subsequent tenure at Huntington University, where he served as professor of youth ministry, director of campus ministries and director of the LINK Institute. Rahn returned to national ministry in 2007 with YFC/USA, where he served as vice president and chief ministry officer. In this role, he guided a national ministries team responsible for training, equipping and resourcing YFC staff across nearly 200 communities nationwide. Rahn concluded his formal ministry career in June 2020, retiring from YFC/USA as senior ministry advisor, leaving behind a legacy of strategic leadership, spiritual depth and unwavering commitment to the Gospel.
Thompson began his career in Christian higher education at Huntington College in 1979, serving as director of student life and hall director of Wright Hall. He later transitioned into the role of dean of enrollment, where he played a key role in shaping the institution’s admissions strategies. In 1993, Thompson joined the organization now known as the North American Coalition for Christian Admission Professionals (NACCAP). Throughout his career, Thompson has been unwavering in his dedication to advancing Christian higher education. In recognition of his decades of service, he was honored in early 2020 with the Champion of Higher Education Award by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU). He currently serves as a fellow with the Association for Biblical Higher Education and is widely regarded as a leading expert in enrollment strategies by Christian college and university presidents across the country.
“The recipients of the honorary degrees during HU's May 2025 graduation ceremonies are an eclectic group with, at first blush, not much in common,” Lightner said. “Extroverts, introverts, a solo practitioner, a founder and leader of a company of hundreds of employees, a missionary, a thought-leader and public speaker. While each of these recipients are blessed with different gifts, they have chosen to use those gifts to the best of their abilities to glorify God explicitly or implicitly and, in so doing, have made a significant impact in their fields and/or in society.”
Photo provided:
- (L to R) Brian Emerick, RuthAnn Price, David Rahn and Chant Thompson received honorary doctorate degrees at Huntington University’s commencement ceremonies this May.
