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Presidential Search

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Presidential Search Information

As the Presidential Search Committee diligently works to select our 8th president, it is important for us to keep the MVNU Campus Community — students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, donors, and friends — informed about the details of the search and how each of us can support the efforts of the Committee and the University.

This page will be your source of information regarding the presidential search and any opportunities for community involvement or feedback.

Questions or concerns can be sent to MVNU.PresidentialSearch@mvnu.edu.

July 7, 2023

MVNU Community,
We want to bring you a brief update and invite you to join us for some specific, timely prayer focuses!
Next Steps:
  1. FaithSearch Partners are working to narrow their search to present semi-finalist candidates to the Search Committee in the next couple of weeks.
  2. The Search Committee is preparing questions to interview the candidates and intensely seeking God’s wisdom, direction, and great discernment for the interview process.
Prayer Focus:
We continue to invite you to join us in prayerful unity by setting aside five minutes per day at 1:00 p.m. to pray for the MVNU presidential search.
  1. Pray for FaithSearch Partners as they finalize the group of semi-finalists to present to the Search Committee.
  2. Pray that God will give great wisdom, direction, and discernment to the Search Committee as we are preparing for the interview process of potential candidates.
  3. Pray that God will strengthen and affirm a leading toward MVNU in the heart of the individual who will be the next president.
  4. Praise God even now for how He is guiding us toward what and who is needed to move MVNU forward to further the mission “To seek to learn is to seek to serve.”
Commitment from the Board of Trustees:
  1. As members of the Church of the Nazarene, the Board of Trustees fully supports the Articles of Faith and the Covenants of Christian Character and Conduct of our denomination and will seek to elect a president who shares our commitment.
  2. We will endeavor to understand and advance our Wesleyan-Holiness identity and heritage as we collaborate with faculty and staff at MVNU.
  3. We will continue praying daily for students, faculty, staff, and administration, and for the decision and direction of the University.
Communication:
If you have concerns or questions throughout this search, please direct them to the presidential email, MVNU.PresidentialSearch@MVNU.edu.
Continue to check this page for updated information regarding the presidential search.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and commitment to the mission God has given MVNU as we make headway in the presidential search!
Larry Hammond, Chair
Presidential Search Committee

JUNE 14, 2023

MVNU Community,

A steady forward movement continues with the presidential search!

What is currently happening:

  1. FaithSearch Partners are conducting their search based on the profile they created from MVNU Stakeholder input. They have received numerous interested responses and expect many more over the next few weeks!
  2. Over the next several weeks, they will continue to narrow the search to prepare to present semi-finalist candidates to the Search Committee.
  3. There may not be additional information to share for several weeks as we await their recommendations. However, as new information arises, we will be sure to inform our wonderful MVNU Community!
  1. As members of the Church of the Nazarene, the Board of Trustees fully supports the Articles of Faith and the Covenants of Christian Character and Conduct of our denomination and will seek to elect a president who shares our commitment.
  2. We will endeavor to understand and advance our Wesleyan-Holiness identity and heritage as we collaborate with faculty and staff at MVNU.
  3. We will continue praying daily for students, faculty, staff, and administration and for the decision and direction of the University.

Communication:

If you have concerns or questions throughout this search, please direct them to the presidential email, MVNU.PresidentialSearch@mvnu.edu.

Return to this page for updated information regarding the presidential search.

Ongoing Prayer Focus:

We continue to invite you to join us in prayerful unity by setting aside five minutes per day at 1:00 p.m. to pray for the MVNU presidential search.

  1. Pray for FaithSearch Partners as they narrow down a group of semi-finalists to present to the Search Committee.
  2. Pray that God will begin or strengthen a stirring toward MVNU in the heart of the individual who will be the next president.
  3. Pray for strength and wisdom for Dr. Wilson as he leads MVNU as interim president during this time.
  4. Praise God even now for how He is guiding us toward what and who is needed to move MVNU forward to further the mission “To seek to learn is to seek to serve.”

Thank you for your prayers and faithful commitment to the mission God has given MVNU as we continue to make steady progress in the presidential search!

Larry Hammond, Chair
Presidential Search Committee

May 25, 2023

MVNU Community,

A steady forward movement continues with the presidential search!

What is currently happening:

  1. FaithSearch Partners are conducting their search based on the profile they created from MVNU Stakeholder input. They have received numerous interested responses and expect many more over the next few weeks!
  2. Over the next several weeks, they will continue to narrow the search to prepare to present semi-finalist candidates to the Search Committee.
  3. There may not be additional information to share for several weeks as we await their recommendations. However, as new information arises, we will be sure to inform our wonderful MVNU Community!
  1. As members of the Church of the Nazarene, the Board of Trustees fully supports the Articles of Faith and the Covenants of Christian Character and Conduct of our denomination and will seek to elect a president who shares our commitment.
  2. We will endeavor to understand and advance our Wesleyan-Holiness identity and heritage as we collaborate with faculty and staff at MVNU.
  3. We will continue praying daily for students, faculty, staff, and administration and for the decision and direction of the University.

Communication:

If you have concerns or questions throughout this search, please direct them to the presidential email, MVNU.PresidentialSearch@mvnu.edu.

Return to this page for updated information regarding the presidential search.

Ongoing Prayer Focus:

We continue to invite you to join us in prayerful unity by setting aside five minutes per day at 1:00 p.m. to pray for the MVNU presidential search.

  1. Pray for FaithSearch Partners as they narrow down a group of semi-finalists to present to the Search Committee.
  2. Pray that God will begin or strengthen a stirring toward MVNU in the heart of the individual who will be the next president.
  3. Pray for strength and wisdom for Dr. Wilson as he leads MVNU as interim president during this time.
  4. Praise God even now for how He is guiding us toward what and who is needed to move MVNU forward to further the mission “To seek to learn is to seek to serve.”

Thank you for your prayers and faithful commitment to the mission God has given MVNU as we continue to make steady progress in the presidential search!

Larry Hammond, Chair
Presidential Search Committee

May 15, 2023

MVNU Community,
Encouraging movement continues in the search for the future MVNU President! Here are the updates we have at this time.

What has Happened:

  1. FaithSearch Partners met with more than 100 key stakeholders at MVNU in May.

  2. FaithSearch Partners received over 650 responses from the online survey (record amount for them and indicative of great engagement, participation and feedback!).

  3. The Search Committee received the Assessment Report from FaithSearch Partners presenting the results of meetings and survey results.

Next Steps:

  1. Throughout June and July, FaithSearch Partners will be sourcing, screening, and interviewing candidates to determine those who are a “mission fit” for MVNU based on results of meetings and surveys.

  2. At the end of July, FaithSearch Partners will present semi-finalists to the Search Committee.

  3. The Search Committee will then conduct interviews of the semi-finalist candidates.

Commitment from the Board of Trustees:

  1. As members of the Church of the Nazarene, the Board of Trustees fully supports the Articles of Faith and the Covenants of Christian Character and Conduct of our denomination and will seek to elect a president who shares our commitment.

  2. We will endeavor to understand and advance our Wesleyan-Holiness identity and heritage as we collaborate with faculty and staff at MVNU.

  3. We will continue praying daily for students, faculty, staff, and administration, and for the decision and direction of the university.

Communication:

If you have concerns or questions throughout this search, please direct them to the presidential email, MVNU.PresidentialSearch@MVNU.edu.

View this page to check for updated information regarding the presidential search.

Specific Answers to Prayer and Ongoing Prayer Focus:

We continue to invite you to join us in prayerful unity by setting aside five minutes per day at 1 p.m., to pray for the MVNU presidential search.

  1. We are rejoicing in the answer to prayer for FaithSearch Partners to gain a clear picture (“mission fit”) for the next MVNU president!

  2. We are rejoicing in the unity of like-minded responses received from in-person meetings and survey results that helped create the clear picture in the search for the next MVNU president. Both the Apostle Paul and our Lord Jesus prayed that we would be people of unity, and those prayers are being answered in this search!

  3. Pray for FaithSearch Partners as they narrow down a group of semi-finalists to present to the Search Committee.

  4. Pray that God will begin or strengthen a stirring toward MVNU in the heart of the individual who will be the next president.

  5. Pray for strength and wisdom for Dr. Wilson as he leads MVNU as transitional leader during this time.

  6. Praise God even now for how He is guiding us toward what and who is needed to move MVNU forward to further the mission “To seek to learn is to seek to serve.”

Thank you for your prayers and faithful commitment to the mission God has given MVNU as we continue leaning into the next steps of this presidential search! 

Larry Hammond, Chair
Presidential Search Committee

April 27, 2023

MVNU Community,
We continue to take steps forward in the search for the future MVNU President! Here are the updates we have at this time:

Next Steps:

  1. FaithSearch Partners will be on site at MVNU on May 2–3 to meet with focus groups of campus and community leaders.

  2. FaithSearch Partners will meet with 7–8 groups of stakeholders via Zoom on May 11–12.

  3. Mid-May, a survey will be emailed out and made available to everyone at https://www.mvnu.edu/presidential-search to gain the most input from all MVNU stakeholders to help FaithSearch Partners develop a thorough profile for the future president (a detailed description of what the ideal candidate who will fill the position should embody in their faith, education, experience, skill set, and other characteristics background).

  4. Following these on-site and Zoom meetings, FaithSearch Partners will conduct a national search and vet prospective candidates to present to the search committee.

Commitment from the Board of Trustees:

  1. As members of the Church of the Nazarene, the Board of Trustees fully supports the Articles of Faith and the Covenants of Christian Character and Conduct of our denomination and will seek to elect a president who shares our commitment.

  2. We will endeavor to understand and advance our Wesleyan-Holiness identity and heritage as we collaborate with faculty and staff at MVNU.

  3. We will pray daily for students, faculty, staff, and administration, and for the decision and direction of the University.

Communication:

If you have concerns or questions throughout this search, please direct them to the presidential email, MVNU.PresidentialSearch@MVNU.edu.

View this page for updated information regarding the presidential search.

Specific Prayer Focus:

We continue to invite you to join us in prayerful unity by setting aside five minutes per day at 1:00 p.m. to pray for the MVNU presidential search.

  1. Pray that FaithSearch Partners will gain a clear picture of what is needed in the next MVNU president. (FaithSearch calls this a “mission fit.”)

  2. Pray that God will begin a stirring toward MVNU in the heart of the individual who will be the next president.

  3. Pray for Dr. Spaulding and Sharon as they transition into retirement.

  4. Praise God even now for how He will make clear what and who is needed to move MVNU forward to further the mission “To seek to learn is to seek to serve.”

Thank you for your prayers and faithful commitment to the mission God has given MVNU as we lean into the next steps of this presidential search! 

Larry Hammond, Chair
Presidential Search Committee

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