About David Jang

Dr. David Jang is the Founder of Olivet University. A visionary Christian leader, theologian, educator, and Korean-American missionary, Dr. Jang has dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

He pioneered grassroots mission efforts, personally traveling on foot and leveraging digital media to spread the Gospel in challenging and restricted regions globally. Emphasized mission training via Olivet University as a ‘seedbed,’ producing disciples and leaders committed to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).

Dr. Jang was born in 1949 and earned his Bachelor of Theology and Master of Divinity from Hanshin University, Korea’s premier Presbyterian theological seminary. He also earned an M.A. in Communications from Yonsei University, a private Christian research university in Seoul. Additionally, David Jang has his Ph.D. in Public Administration of Social Welfare from Dankook University, a top private university in Seoul.

His mentors include Dr. Ralph D. Winter, a leading American missionary (U.S. Center for World Mission), and Dr. Jang-sik Lee, a respected teacher of Korean church history, missionary leader, and founder of Olivet University Korea.

Dr. Jang founded Olivet University in 2004 in a humble basement in downtown San Francisco. He chose this city because of its rich ethnic diversity, which continues to be part of Olivet’s diverse faculty and student population.

David Jang quickly aligned Olivet with the needs of the Great Commission and the global Christian community, expanding beyond its flagship Theological College & Seminary to include schools of Music, Journalism, Art & Design, and Technology. He also invited Dr. William Wagner, a renowned mission strategist, to join the faculty, who, in turn, brought in local scholars who continue to serve Olivet today.

In 2005, Olivet moved into the former UC Berkeley Downtown Extension Campus, ideally equipped for its mission. The following year, Dr. Jang passed the presidency to Dr. David James Randolph, becoming International President to lead global outreach.

Under Dr. Jang’s leadership, Olivet flourished, gaining accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education in 2009, launching new schools of Business and Language Education, and expanding to offer a full range of degrees, including doctoral programs. Partnerships also deepened, most notably with the World Evangelical Alliance, where Dr. Jang joined the North American Council in 2007.

Dr. Jang’s vision to train young men and women for global mission through formal theological education continues to shape Olivet’s growth and service to Christ today.