Kent R. Hill
Encyclopedia
Kent R. Hill is the Vice President for Character Development at the John Templeton Foundation
.
and Eurasia
at USAID. As the latter, he oversaw economic and humanitarian assistance in 23 nations from the Balkans
to Central Asia
, including all the countries of the former Soviet Union." As described by USAID, Hill is "responsible for a bureau that manages health programs all over the world" with funding in the range of billions of dollars and "seeks to provide global leadership in the effort to improve the quality, availability, and use of essential health services."
As well as political roles, Hill has published books, articles, reviews on human rights, intellectual history, international development, and matters related to religion in the former Soviet Union
. He is a noted expert on democracy, international development policy, human rights, and international religious freedom issues. He has also been an active participant in religious dialogue. Hill was president of the Eastern Nazarene College
(ENC) from 1992 to 2001, where he instituted a somewhat controversial but ACLU
-approved policy for the college to only hire "committed Christians", and was highly active in ecumenical relations between the evangelical
-Protestant
Nazarene
s and Roman Catholics
. Before that, from 1986 to 1992, he was president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy
in Washington, D.C.
He also taught European and Russian history at Seattle Pacific University
from 1980 to 1986.
, where he studied under visiting scholar James R. Cameron
. Hill also has a master's degree in Russian studies and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington
in Seattle. He was also awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters from Houghton College
.
John Templeton Foundation
"The John Templeton Foundation is a philanthropic organizationthat funds inter-disciplinary research about human purpose and ultimate reality. It is usually referred to simply as the Templeton Foundation...
.
Career
Hill has been Vice President of Character Development at the John Templeton Foundation since early 2009. Hill briefly served as Acting Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in January 2009. Hill was previously the Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Global Health from 2005 until 2009, before which he was Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
at USAID. As the latter, he oversaw economic and humanitarian assistance in 23 nations from the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
to Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, including all the countries of the former Soviet Union." As described by USAID, Hill is "responsible for a bureau that manages health programs all over the world" with funding in the range of billions of dollars and "seeks to provide global leadership in the effort to improve the quality, availability, and use of essential health services."
As well as political roles, Hill has published books, articles, reviews on human rights, intellectual history, international development, and matters related to religion in the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. He is a noted expert on democracy, international development policy, human rights, and international religious freedom issues. He has also been an active participant in religious dialogue. Hill was president of the Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
(ENC) from 1992 to 2001, where he instituted a somewhat controversial but ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
-approved policy for the college to only hire "committed Christians", and was highly active in ecumenical relations between the evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
-Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Nazarene
Church of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
s and Roman Catholics
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Before that, from 1986 to 1992, he was president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy
Institute on Religion and Democracy
The Institute on Religion and Democracy is a Christian think tank that promotes Christian conservatism in public life. The organization comments on current events in the Christian community...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He also taught European and Russian history at Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university of the liberal arts, sciences and professions, located on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1891 by the Oregon and Washington Conference of the Free Methodist Church as the Seattle Seminary...
from 1980 to 1986.
Education
Hill graduated from Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, IdahoNampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
, where he studied under visiting scholar James R. Cameron
James R. Cameron
-Early life and education:An Ohio native, Cameron began his undergraduate education at the Ohio State University. He transferred to the Eastern Nazarene College and received his bachelor's degree in history...
. Hill also has a master's degree in Russian studies and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle. He was also awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters from Houghton College
Houghton College
Houghton College is a Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. The college is a member of both the Christian College Consortium and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities...
.