MidAmerica Nazarene University re-elects Ed Robinson to five-year term

Olathe, Kansas

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Ed Robinson was re-elected to a five-year term as president of MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) by overwhelming majority in a vote of the Board of Trustees in its annual meeting on Wednesday, November 18, according to Mike Palmer, secretary of the Board of Trustees.

"The Board commends Dr. Robinson on this affirmation of leadership," Palmer stated. "In a spirit of optimism and expectancy, the Board looks forward to working with Dr. Robinson and the MNU community to accomplish our mission in the days ahead. May God grant us the ability to continue to develop a Pioneering Spirit, a Passion to Serve, and Purposeful Lives."

Robinson is the fourth president of MNU, originally taking office on July 1, 2005.

He previously served as a professor of religious education, minister of the chapel and director of the master of arts in Christian education program at Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) in Kansas City, Missouri. During his nearly two decades at NTS, he was also dean of the faculty and director of the seminary's doctor of ministry program.
Between 1976 and 1984, he served churches in San Diego and Long Beach, California, as a minister of youth and Christian education.

Robinson holds three degrees: the bachelor of arts from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, the master of religious education from NTS, and the Ph.D. in educational studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has also participated in post doctoral study at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary's urban campus in Boston, Massachusetts.

He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Wesleyan Theological Society, North American Professors of Christian Education (past vice president and member of the Board of Directors), and served as the chair of the Board of Directors for the Association of Youth Ministry Educators.

Robinson has published numerous articles in church and Christian education journals and is the author of three books: Not Ashamed, Walking Worthy, and Preteen Ministry: Between a Rock and a Hard Place. He has also written chapters of several other books. Robinson has taught and lectured at numerous universities and conferences. He has also served as a consultant to Nazarene Youth International Ministries, Nazarene Publishing House, Nazarene Missions International, Youthnet of Greater Kansas City, and the Department of Pastoral Care for the Kansas City Metro Medical Centers of the Hospital Corporation of America.

President Robinson and his wife, Nancy, have two daughters:  Kimberly Lovitt and Kelly Robinson.

In addition to announcing Robinson's re-election, the university also introduced Priority 2014, a strategic plan that contains six major strategic objectives to be accomplished by November 2014. The initiative includes new enrollment targets, campus enhancements for academics and community life, and key financial objectives. A new positioning statement contained in the plan combines the pre-existing mission and vision statements of the university and affirms a new mission statement: to educate and inspire servant leaders; and a new vision statement: to be a premier Christian university with global impact.


"The position statement reaffirms our commitment to be an educational ministry of the Church of the Nazarene with an organized principle theologically, philosophically, socially, and psychologically within the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition," said Robinson. "The six strategic objectives give direction for the next five years and address our most critical needs and greatest opportunities. Our position is stable, our mission is substantive. Our vision is worthy of the full investment of our strengths."

Details of Priority 2014, Strategic Objectives

1. Mission-based enrollment with 1,300 traditional undergraduate students and 1,500 adult and graduate students in professional programs.
2. An academic program of distinction with an innovative integrative core curriculum, a quality honors program, graduation requirement of international/cross-cultural experience and exemplary faculty and student scholarship.
3. Create a premier community life with first preference on-campus student services for 700 traditional undergraduate students living in residence halls.
4. Stable financial position with a positive cash flow from operating activities annually and the elimination of existing debt by June 30, 2014.
5. Increasing resource development with an endowment of $15M, an annual University Fund of $1.5M, grants of $3M annually, and increased alumni giving participation rate to 20-percent.
6. The capital development of a 21st Century campus with the addition of a Business/Graduate/Professional Studies educational facility, the development of a plan for the full service Cunningham Campus Center and the construction of a model NAIA outdoor athletic complex for football, soccer and track and field to complement the Cook Center, Robbie Jones Field and Williams Field.

In other action during the November 18 meeting, the Trustees received and accepted the university's latest annual financial report.

"This report provided information on the positive improvements in the university's financial position and results of its operations," said Kevin Gilmore, vice president for Financial Affairs and CFO.

MNU Facts

• MNU's fall 2009 student headcount was 1,778, a 2-percent increase over fall 2008.
• Of the first-year students enrolled in fall 2008, MNU achieved a 96-percent retention rate for the spring 2009 semester.
• Although more than 33-percent of MNU students are of the Nazarene denomination, more than 30 other denominations are represented in the student body.
• MNU has offered innovative, accelerated adult degree completion and graduate programs for more than 20 years.
• MNU grants approximately 20 associate of arts degrees and more than 400 bachelor's and graduate degrees yearly.
• The yearly economic impact of the university is more than $50 million, not including expenditures by students and campus visitors.

For more information about the university, see www.mnu.edu.
--MNU (All funds expressed in U.S. dollars.)

 

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