David Diener

Dr. David Diener grew up in northern Michigan and northeast Ohio where he spent his childhood working in the family gardens, cutting wood, playing in corn fields, Bible quizzing, downhill skiing, playing music, and, of course, studying assiduously in school. He began his formal post-secondary education at Wheaton College where he graduated summa cum laude with an undergraduate degree in philosophy and ancient languages. After putting his philosophical training to work by building custom cabinets and doing high-end finish carpentry for an Amish company, he moved with his wife to Bogotá, Colombia, where they served as missionaries for three years at a Christian international school. He then attended graduate school at Indiana University where he earned an M.A. in philosophy, an M.S. in history and philosophy of education, and a dual Ph.D. in philosophy and philosophy of education. Other random credentials include a ham radio license and a private pilot license. He has taught at The Stony Brook School and Taylor University and has served as Head of Upper Schools at Covenant Classical School in Fort Worth, Texas, and Head of School at Grace Academy in Georgetown, Texas. He currently works at Hillsdale College where he is the Headmaster of Hillsdale Academy and a Lecturing Professor of Education. He also is a Fellow on the Alcuin Fellowship National Council and serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Classical Learning and the Board of Academic Advisors for the Classic Learning Test. He is the author of Plato: The Great Philosopher-Educator and serves as the series editor for Classical Academic Press’ series Giants in the History of Education. In addition to reading and thinking about anything interesting, Dr. Diener enjoys outdoor activities, exercise and sports, singing and playing music, hunting, carpentry, electrical engineering, and, of course, spending time with his wife and children.