WEST PALM BEACH -- Dr. David McKinley, teaching pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas will be the featured speaker at Palm Beach Atlantic University's Spring Commencement at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3. The event, which will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, is open to graduates and guests who hold tickets.

More than 400 candidates for associate, bachelor's, master's and professional degrees from both the West Palm Beach and Orlando campuses will participate in the ceremony.

Prior to coming to Prestonwood in 2002, Dr. McKinley served as senior pastor of Boca Raton Community Church (Bibletown Conference Center), Boca Raton, Fla.; senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Merritt Island, Fla.; associate pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas; and associate pastor of First Baptist Church West Palm Beach.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Memphis State University, a master of divinity degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary; and a doctor of ministry degree from Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.

Dr. McKinley serves as an adjunct faculty member of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a minister mentor for the Field Education Division of Dallas Theological Seminary, and a trustee of Palm Beach Atlantic University.

In recent years, his ministry has extended to include international mission endeavors. In 2005, he was a speaker at the national pastors' conference in Romania and, in 2003, he traveled to Panama with a team of leaders involved in Operation Christmas Child. In 1997, he participated with leadership from the International Mission Board in "Project Impact," traveling to Cuba, China and North Korea. He also serves on the trustee board of Mission One.

Dr. McKinley authored the books, The Search for Satisfaction (W Publishing Group, 2006) and The Life You Were Born to Give (W Publishing Group, 2007). He also made contributions to the pastor's manual, In Remembrance of Me, by Dr. Jim Henry (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998) and the devotional book, Directions: Daily Devotions for Your Journey (2002), with proceeds benefiting Sheridan House Family Ministries.

Palm Beach Atlantic is a private, independent university offering undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees, with campuses in West Palm Beach, Orlando and Wellington. The University is dedicated to the integration of Christian principles to prepare students for lifelong learning, leadership and service.