I was born and reared in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and, through the influence of some family members came into contact with the Church of the Nazarene as a teenager. I accepted Christ in that small church, and a very faithful pastor and his wife convinced me that a Christian college was the only higher education option for Christian young people. After high school, I enrolled at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, majored in English, and met my wife, Marla Moore Streit from North Carolina.
It was at Trevecca that I felt drawn to education, in general, and to Christian higher education, in particular. After several years of teaching high school English, I began the graduate school journey, leading to a Master of Science degree from the University of Tennessee as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Illinois. An early job offer for a faculty position at Olivet Nazarene University began a 30-plus year relationship with that fine institution. In addition to a teaching position in the Department of English, I served as department chair, dean of graduate studies, founder of the office of career planning and placement, vice president for graduate and adult studies, vice president for academic affairs, and provost. It was at Olivet that I was given the opportunity to launch a number of “firsts” that led to institutional growth and development, including ONU’s first doctoral degree, the Doctor of Education degree in ethical leadership. I also served a three-year term as president of Malone University in Canton, Ohio.
I have the opportunity to work closely with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as a peer reviewer and consultant evaluator. I have chaired 50-plus visits to a variety of higher educational institutions throughout the 19-state HLC region. I recently received a distinguished service award for outstanding contribution to the Commission.
I have had the privilege of working closely with the Church of the Nazarene’s International Board of Education in designing and implementing their missional review program. As a part of that process, I participated in reviews at Korea Nazarene University, Africa Nazarene University, European Nazarene College, several other Africa theological/nursing/education schools, and consulted at the new Nazarene university in Brazil.
I have been involved along with my family in the local churches where we have been members, notably College Church of the Nazarene at Olivet. I also served on the denomination’s planning committee for three of the International Nazarene Laymen’s Conferences. Having served as president of the Trevecca Nazarene University’s Alumni Association, I also represented that group on the university’s board of trustees. I was honored by my alma mater with the “T” award, given to an alumnus for outstanding service and accomplishment.
I am married to Dr. Marla Streit, also an experienced Nazarene educator. We have one daughter, Emily, and are grandparents of three, Master, Molly, and Myles. Emily and her husband, Corey Teague, live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and both work in the field of education.