Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to speak to the NBC family at a chapel service.  I spoke about beginning with the end in mind. As I suggested in chapel, “to begin with the end in mind” means to start with the clear understanding of both where you are and where you want to be.  This is true, of course, in general, but might have specific meaning to those students here at NBC in Christian higher education. It suggests that one must always be aware of destination in order to keep his/her steps moving in the right direction. Christian colleges and universities have been my destination, and I have been so very fortunate for each opportunity that this journey has brought me.

I also noted, “As both a Christian higher education advocate and as vice president for academic affairs at NBC, I hold strongly to the idea that through Christ’s redemption, each of us is able to fully impact his or her own first creation and then to write our scripts for the second.”  Had I been asked a few years ago where I might be at this point of my career, I would not have known it to be at this particular Christian college, but as John 16:13 reminds us, “Yet the Spirit of truth does not lead people into confusion.” It is His will that has brought me to this place, Nazarene Bible College, birthed on this Colorado Springs bluff more than forty years ago.

At Nazarene Bible College, the faculty and staff strive to assist those who are called by Christ through ministry preparation. Therefore, it is encouraging to see such steadfast women and men furthering their preparedness for service through NBC’s educational programs.  Through either traditional campus delivery or online Christian education learning opportunities, NBC encourages students to follow Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” My path has recently been directed towards working to glorify Jesus Christ as Lord by helping to prepare adults to evangelize, disciple, and minister to the world. We rest in the promise that God will lead us in the right direction as long as we are willing to follow.

During my time in the Nazarene Church, I’ve been blessed to meet incredible people, people with right hearts and minds, and to grow in the Lord through my interactions and associations. I strongly believe members of the NBC family fall in this category. The call from Dr. Graves, NBC’s President, about the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs, was at the perfect time. In his warmth and spirituality, I could feel the hand of God moving me here.

God has led me to so many profound endeavors. I’ve worked with the Church of the Nazarene International Board of Education. I’ve participated in reviews at theological, nursing, and education schools in Africa, Brazil, Europe, and Korea. Watching the growth of emerging schools and helping them in their triumphs has been an unparalleled joy.

NBC is not a new school, but rather has some history. I remember 1964 when the General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene authorized building the college, as well as its opening in 1967 with Dr. Charles H. Strickland as its first president. Since then, everyone at NBC has done a remarkable job, not only of fulfilling the mission “to glorify Jesus Christ as Lord by preparing adults to evangelize, disciple, and minister to the world,” but of evolving NBC to accommodate societal and technological changes. Currently NBC occupies an exceptional position, offering Christian education globally.

Through tailored programs, NBC caters to campus students, military students, distance education students, post-graduate students of other universities, continuing education students, and more. NBC is also assisting Trevecca Nazarene University and Olivet Nazarene University with delivery of their online graduate-level programs. This ability to evolve to serve students wherever they are in the world, in whatever situation they are in, is a tribute to everyone involved with NBC. I am glad to be able to contribute to this, and am excited about the possibilities to implement future enhancements. I can hardly wait to jump in with both feet.

This is also a year of reaffirmation of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This accreditation is critical for NBC, and I feel I can offer a great deal of expertise in completing this process. I have a 25-year tenure with HLC, chairing over 50 HLC visits to many different institutions of higher learning, and have been honored by HLC with a Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contributions. The fact that NBC follows its mission so successfully makes this involved process much easier. Together I know we will earn the reaffirmation of accreditation.

As a Nazarene, as an educator, as a Christian Academic Administrator, I am thrilled to be here in Colorado Springs. I feel I am here at the right time, right where God wants me, with a college that is focused on preparing its students to follow their gifts and callings in Christ. I look forward to working with everyone here on our glorious mission.