Profile

James (Jay) H. Barnes III became the fifth president of Bethel University on July 1, 2008.

Barnes has been a leader in Christian higher education for more than 30 years. Most recently, he has served for 13 years as executive vice president and provost of the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Adult & Professional Studies, and Graduate School at Bethel University.

Prior to his time at Bethel, Barnes was active in the area of student development, serving first as the dean for student development and then the vice president for student development for 15 years at Messiah College in Pennsylvania. He was a residence director at Wheaton College for four years, and served as teacher, vice principal, and then principal at Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany, in the early-mid 1970s.

Barnes' list of professional activities and memberships is long, including, but not limited to:

+ Member, Association for Christians in Student Development; served as a past president and vice president, made frequent presentations at national conferences (1978-present)

+ Member, Phi Delta Kappa, National Educational Honor Society

+ Member, Alpha Sigma Nu National Honor Society for Graduates of Jesuit Universities

+ Educational Development Group, Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship (1994-1997). Barnes was part of a writing and editing team for a monograph on a Christian approach to student development theory and practice titled Student Affairs Reconsidered, published in 1997 by University Press of America.

+ Departmental Evaluator for student development departments at Bethel College (1989), John Brown University (1991), Malone College (1994, 1998), Azusa Pacific University (1995), Abilene Christian University (1998), Huntington College (1999), and Baylor University (2000)

+ Departmental Evaluator for Huntington College's campus ministries department (1999) and vice president for academic affairs (2001, 2008) as well as the Houghton College music department (2002)

+ Presenter, Christian College Coalition (now Council for Christian Colleges & Universities) New Faculty Workshops (1990-1991)

+ Presenter/Mentor, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities Executive Leadership Development Institute (2001)

+ Chair, Planning Task Force, Christian College Consortium Conference on Gender, Identity, and Human Sexuality (2005)

+ Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning Board (2004-2007)

+ Facilitator for Married Student Retreats through the Center for Relationship Enrichment at John Brown University (2007-08)