Charles J. Kunert, PhD, is the administrative dean at NUNM. He holds a doctorate in molecular genetics from the University of Oregon (’85) and an M.S. degree in biology from Portland State University (’72). He was a faculty member at Concordia University in Portland from 1969 until 2016, and served as dean of the College of Theology, Arts & Sciences from 1993 to 2013. Dr. Kunert founded Concordia’s Environmental Science program and is the author of several scientific articles and science textbooks. He is currently authoring a work on the intersection of faith and science in the area of understanding our biological origins. He was the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Teacher in Higher Education for the State of Oregon presented by the Oregon Academy of Sciences. He also served as the women’s basketball coach at the high school and college level for 28 years. Twice named Coach of the Year in NAIA District II, he also was named to the NAIA District II Hall of Fame.

His family includes three married children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys the outdoors, being an avid fisherman, hiker and hunter.