In 2011, a merger between Griggs University/Griggs International Academy and Andrews University brought Alayne Thorpe to Berrien Springs, Michigan. It was the beginning of an impactful career at Andrews that allowed her to touch lives around the world.
Alayne first served at Andrews University as founding dean of the School of Distance Education & International Partnerships. Later, she also took on the role of dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Then, when the School of Distance Education & International Partnerships and the School of Education were merged into the College of Education & International Services (CEIS), she was named dean of CEIS and served as associate provost of the School of Graduate Studies.
Prior to her time at Andrews, Alayne worked as the academic head/chief academic officer of Griggs University and Griggs International Academy. She enjoyed the work, though she had never previously envisioned herself as a proponent of distance education. She says, “I began life as a classroom teacher in a public school and thought that the classroom was the only place where education could occur.”
However, when she began work in Seventh-day Adventist education, her perspective started to change. “I realized two things,” Alayne shares. “The first was that the most spiritually transformative experiences that people could have were happening in Adventist classrooms throughout the world. The second was that there were many people not able to benefit from an Adventist classroom.”
She recognized that because many students lack access to a local Adventist school, the only way to provide them with a transformative Adventist education was to make it portable—and her roles at Andrews allowed numerous opportunities to further that work.
Alayne has found it rewarding to watch Andrews—with its supportive faculty, staff and administrators—expand its reach to students in Berrien Springs and beyond. She looks forward to even more growth with the recent launch of the Global Campus and is confident that its leaders will continue their important work.
She has also treasured her time with graduate programs. “We have truly dedicated graduate students who have made great sacrifices to attend Andrews University. I am humbled by their enthusiasm, by their commitment to helping build a better Church, a better school, a better health care system,” she notes.
Alayne’s favorite passage of Scripture is John 21:15–17, in which Jesus shows Peter not only that He forgives him but that He trusts Peter with the highest responsibility a follower of Jesus can have: to feed His sheep. She says, “That is what we do every day at Andrews University. We feed Jesus’ flock—the precious people He has brought to our campus, whether physical or virtual.”
In retirement, Alayne will be working part-time for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, advocating for higher education, and aims to continue finding ways to support Andrews University. She affirms, “I have spent my career trying to make transformative experiences available to as many people as possible. It has been a pleasure to work collaboratively across the Andrews University campus to expand the University’s reach around the world.”