Dr. Felix Theonugraha

President

Professor of Educational Leadership

B.A. Psychology and English at the University of California, Berkeley
M.Div. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Ph.D. in Educational Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
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“I am excited to further and deepen the mission of Western Theological Seminary to form women and men for faithful Christian ministry and participation in the Triune God’s ongoing redemptive work in the world. WTS exists to serve the Church! Join us in this mission."
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Dr. Felix Theonugraha

Dr. Felix Theonugraha

About Dr. Felix Theonugraha

Dr. Felix Theonugraha is the 12th President of Western Theological Seminary. He began his presidency on July 1, 2019.

Under President Theonugraha’s leadership, Western Theological Seminary has adopted a new mission statement, approved a new strategic plan, began a new capital campaign, and is on the verge of launching a new Master of Arts program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which is slated to begin in Fall, 2024. During his administration, the Seminary has also established the Center for Disability and Ministry and the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination.

Over the last four years, the Seminary has also enjoyed robust enrollment growth, growing nearly 30% in total enrollment, from 337 students in 2019 to 433 students in 2023. The Hispanic Ministry Program now nears 100 students, enrolling students in Certificate, Master’s and Doctoral Spanish-speaking programs.

A pastor’s son who first felt a call to ministry at age nine, Dr. Theonugraha was born in Indonesia to Chinese Christian parents. The family originally had a Chinese last name, but changed it to the Indonesian “Theonugraha” (meaning “God’s Grace” and pronounced theo-new-GRA-ha). When Dr. Theonugraha was 12, his father accepted a call to pastor a Mandarin-speaking congregation in the San Francisco Bay area, and they immigrated to the United States. 

“WTS has an incredible history,” Dr. Theonugraha says. “My prayer is that I can extend and deepen that history so WTS continues to be a place that form women and men for faithful Christian ministry, and do so in a way that is mindful and responsive to our time and place in God’s story—such as the increasing ethnic diversity in our country and the growth of the church in the Global South and East. WTS exists to serve the Church! That will always be our focus.”

Prior to coming to Western, he served for 14 years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School/ Trinity International University, in Deerfield, IL, in various positions of increasing responsibility, and last served as the Vice President for Student Life and University Services. In that role he led the enrollment team, athletics department, alumni office, and student life division.

Dr. Theonugraha majored in Psychology and English at the University of California, Berkeley, and was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship, which is the most prestigious scholarship given by UC Berkeley to undergraduate students. He then attended seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He completed his Ph.D. in Educational Studies at Trinity and met his wife, Dr. Esther Theonugraha, there. They are the parents of Isaiah and Nora, and a black lab named Sophie.

Areas of Expertise 

Dr. Theonugraha’s personal experience, as well as his professional role as a talented administrator, make him uniquely qualified to lead WTS into the rapidly changing and diversifying world of theological education.

DOWNLOAD DR. THEONUGRAHA’S CV >

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