Frank Yamada
Executive Director, The Association of Theological Schools
Frank Yamada is the sixth executive director of the Association of Theological Schools. He brings to the role decades of leadership experience in theological education and in communities of faith.
During his tenure, ATS has fostered and encouraged innovation in member schools while strengthening their diverse missions to address the shifting landscape of religion and higher education. Under his leadership, ATS has re-developed the Standards of Accreditation, received $60 million in grant funding to support the future of theological schools and their leaders, successfully navigated the multiple programs of the Association through the global pandemic, and partnered with the Lilly Endowment through programs like the Pathways for Tomorrow initiative, which has granted over $700 million to ATS accredited schools and supporting organizations to innovate and adapt their models to better serve future leaders for the church and world.
He has written about and speaks on the future of theological education. Before coming to ATS, he was the tenth president of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.