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During the 2026 Commencement Ceremony, we celebrate a pillar of the Houghton community, a scholar-servant whose influence has spanned decades, disciplines, and even local theater stages. We honor Dr. Paul Young—an alumnus of the Class of 1976, the Robert L. Davidson Professor of Social Sciences, and a beloved mentor who has spent over thirty years proving that intellectual rigor and deep personal faith are not merely compatible, but essential partners.

Paul returned here to his alma mater in 1980, driven by a redemptive vision of Houghton’s role in his own life and a desire to offer that same transformation to the next generation. Throughout his tenure, he has stepped into nearly every leadership capacity imaginable: from Chair of the Psychology Department and Area Associate Dean to Interim Academic Vice President. Whether leading students through the “Houghton Down Under” program in Australia or representing Houghton professionally, Paul navigated the complexities of institutional leadership with wisdom and his signature quick wit.

Paul is a dedicated scholar. His collaborative research, ranging from longitudinal studies on moral reasoning to sophisticated measurements of Christian meditation, demonstrates his commitment to applying the best of social science to understand the human condition. He does not shy away from the “hard questions” of what it means to be human in a broken world, bringing a grounded, empathetic perspective to the task of Christian education.

Paul’s legacy is perhaps best measured by the work he does when he isn’t being a faculty member or dean. Paul has led one of the longest-running Sunday school classes at Houghton Wesleyan Church, fueled by a lifelong passion for Bible study. We would be remiss not to mention his legendary performance at SPOT as Kermit the Frog, or the twenty years he and his wife, Debbie, spent enriching local community theater. From the Short Tract theater to the stage of Houghton Academy, Paul has treated the arts and his neighbors with equal devotion. As retired pastor Wes Oden once noted, “Paul’s service is a dual act of worship: a love for God expressed through the quiet, consistent loving of his neighbor.”

We will honor Paul for the thousands of hours spent in classrooms, the meticulous care given to his research, and the joyful spirit he bring to the stage. He has seen his own students’ children return to campus, a testament to the legacy of excellence he helped build.

In recognition of a lifetime of service, scholarship, and community devotion, President Wayne D. Lewis Jr. presents Dr. Paul Young with the Willard J. Houghton Medal.