David Douglas Daniels III is the Henry Winters Luce Professor of World Christianity at McCormick Theological Seminary where he joined the faculty in 1987 and the Professor Extraordinarius at the Institute for Gender Studies, University of South Africa.  He has taught as an occasional professor at seminaries in the Philippines and Ghana.

Daniels earned his Ph.D. degree from Union Theological Seminary-NYC.  He has authored over sixty scholarly book chapters, academic journal articles, and general essays, publishing on topics related to the history of the Black Holiness movement, Black Pentecostalism, Black Church, Global Pentecostalism, and African Christians in 16th century Europe.  He has served on U. S. research projects funded by the Lilly Endowment, Luce Foundation, Pew Charitable Trust, and Templeton Foundation.  He has also participated on funded-research projects in Germany and Norway.

Daniels has served on the various editorial boards, including being an associate editor of the Journal of World Christianity.  He has delivered public lectures at colleges and seminaries in the United States and in over 15 other countries.  His academic guild involvement has included serving as president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and on steering committees of the American Academy of Religion:  African American Religious History Group (co-chair), Evangelical Theology Group (co-chair), Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements Consultation, and History of Christianity Section.