Honorary Degree Awarded to David Cram

A scholar-servant in the truest sense, David Cram has dedicated nearly four decades to ensuring that the global mission of the Church is built upon a foundation of integrity, stewardship, and excellence.

Dave’s journey began with a brilliant display of technical mastery. After earning his MBA and serving with the U.S. General Accounting Office, he achieved a feat that remains legendary in his field: scoring in the top 100 out of 70,000 candidates on the CPA exam—earning the prestigious Elijah Watts Sells Award. However, Dave chose to offer this world-class expertise not to the highest bidder, but instead to the highest calling.

For 35 years, Dave served as a cornerstone of Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL International. As Corporate Treasurer, Chief Audit Executive, and CFO, he navigated the immense logistical and financial complexities of an organization spanning over 100 countries and 1,500 languages. In these roles, Dave did not merely manage accounts; he safeguarded the resources intended to bring the Word of God to the ends of the earth.

His influences have extended far beyond the ledger. Dave has been a mentor to the global missions community, leading the Missio Nexus Finance and Administration Committee and conducting over 150 compliance reviews for the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. His travel to more than 30 nations was rarely for leisure, but rather to educate national staff in internal controls, empowering local leaders with the tools of professional excellence.

Houghton University holds a deep, personal debt of gratitude to Dave. In 2000, he and Joan modeled the university’s mission by designing and leading an international Field Audit May Term course. He took our students into the heart of Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, bridging the gap between classroom theory and the rigorous realities of global service.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Christian missions, his unwavering commitment to financial integrity, and his lifelong embodiment of the servant-leader ideal, by the power vested in President Wayne D. Lewis Jr. by the Regents of the State of New York, and with the approval of the faculty and trustees of Houghton University, it is his distinct honor to confer upon David Cram the degree, Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.