The new Lion King

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- Wrapped in a white silk fur-lined cape presented to him

by students, Murray Dempster looked as much like the king of the beasts

as he did the new president of Vanguard University of Southern

California.

Dempster was officially inaugurated as the seventh president of the

school once known as Southern California College at a ceremony attended

by a host of community and educational leaders Thursday.

“I’m feeling excited about the future of the university and its

service in the education of students,” Dempster said.

His appointment is the latest change in the slow metamorphosis of the

college, which opened as Southern California Bible School in 1920.

In 1939, as World War II began, the school began awarding degrees and

became Southern California Bible College.

In the 1950s, there was talk of branching out and educating students

who did not plan to enter a traditional ministry service. So, in 1959,

the name and curriculum were changed and the school became Southern

California College.

In 1976, Wayne Kraiss was appointed president and went on to serve

nearly 25 years in office -- the longest presidential reign in the

school’s history.

Along the way, the campus would see yet another name change. In July

1999, it became Vanguard University of Southern California, home of the

Lions.

Following the retirement of Kraiss this year, a committee searched far

and wide to find the right person to lead Vanguard into the new

millennium.

As it turned out, the committee didn’t need to look very far.

“We looked all over the United States, and we had the talent right

here all along,” said Bill Larson, a member of Vanguard’s board of

trustees and a law professor at Pepperdine University.

Dempster’s career at Vanguard has spanned 31 years. In that time, he

has served as the dean of men, campus pastor, professor of social ethics,

division chairman, founder of the graduate studies program and, most

recently, as provost.

As he made his way through the ranks, his easygoing personality made

him a favorite with administration, faculty and students.

“He’s one of those ‘what you see is what you get’ sort of men,” said

Larson, adding that he has never seen anyone who relates to students

better than Dempster.

“We’re all excited,” said junior Heather Rachels, Vanguard’s student

body president. “He always has a smile on his face and he always comes to

all the basketball games.”