After a national search conducted with the help of JobFitMatters, a retained Christian executive search firm, the Board of Trustees has elected Dr. Richard Riesen (Rē-sen) as the Interim Head of School for Maranatha High School. He will begin his duties June 15, 2015 and will serve until a permanent Head of School is appointed.
Dr. Riesen brings substantial Head of School experience to Maranatha, having recently served as the Interim Head at the respected Stonybrook School, a Christian boarding school in New York. He also served as the Principal at Pacific Christian on the Hill for 15 years, a local high school that was committed to serving North East Los Angeles. Dr. Riesen also serves as the Administrator of a non-profit foundation.
Dr. Riesen holds degrees from UCSB, Claremont Graduate School, and a BD and PhD from the University of Edinburgh. He has also written several books including Piety and Philosophy: A Primer for Christian Schools, an examination of the integration of Christian faith and education. In accepting the appointment, Dr. Riesen said, “I consider it a compliment and a privilege to have been considered for the Interim Head of School position at Maranatha. I look forward to leading the staff in a clearly articulated understanding of the integration of faith and learning.”
David Smith, Co-Chair of the Maranatha Board said, “Dr. Riesen is extremely gracious and humble, and he is confident in what he can do here at Maranatha for God’s glory. We are blessed to have him here as our Interim Head of School.”
Richard, a former infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, enjoys cycling and recently completed a bike tour from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. He lives in Monrovia with his wife of 44 years, Florence. They have one son, Peter, who is Senior Counsel for Ethics and General Law at the U.S Dept. of the Treasury in Washington D.C.
Maranatha High School, 169 S. St. John Avenue, Pasadena, (626) 817-4000 or visit www.maranatha-hs.org.
