President Daniel Chamberlain and his wife, Joyce Chamberlain, served Houghton’s community during Daniel’s presidency at Houghton University (formerly known as Houghton College) from 1976 till 2006.
As a Houghton University undergraduate and later a faculty member, I recall singing Charles Wesley’s hymn “I Want a Principle Within” in conjunction with chapels in which President Chamberlain delivered the message. Though not an imposing man, President Chamberlain’s yearning for a foundational principle of godly fear, sensitivity to sin and the ability to resist temptation—the essence of Wesley’s hymn–resonated deeply with me as a young scholar, and Dr. Chamberlain’s life and service have remained a model to me as I have served for many years in Christian higher education.
– Professor of English Jonathan Gates ’85
When I think of President Chamberlain the phrase that always comes to mind is scholar-servant, as he (and also Joyce) modeled this for the Houghton community every day. I also can still picture the way he would simply point toward God with his hand when receiving applause in Chapel or other settings. It was such a simple gesture, but one clearly intended to teach and remind us of the One truly worthy of our thanks and praise.
– Provost and Dean of the Faculty David Davies ’01
Dan and Joyce Chamberlain consistently exemplified Houghton hospitality. The way they welcomed people to campus was a powerful example of what today we call the Houghton community.
– Professor of Communication Douglas Gaerte, hired in 1988
