Meet Jay Barnes

Summer 2008

He describes himself as height-challenged, and an evangelical with Anabaptist and Pietist "flavoring." Married to Barbara for 37 years, he's the father of three and the grandfather of eight. And now, he's also the president of Bethel University's 6,200 students and 900 staff and faculty.

Meet James H. Barnes III. But, "Just call me Jay," he says.

This approachability is one of many attributes that brought Barnes to the top of the Presidential Search Committee's list of 62 candidates. "His humble demeanor and calm, wise approach in many situations has earned him well-deserved respect from colleagues," says Presidential Search Committee Chair and Trustee Dan Lindh.

But his experience is just as strong: Barnes has invested more than 30 years in Christian higher education, the past 13 at Bethel as executive vice president and provost of the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), College of Adult & Professional Studies (CAPS), and the Graduate School (GS). In that role, he oversaw the academic side of the shop but also made sure it dovetailed well with campus ministries and student life, including athletics-a "dream job," in his words.

Even prior to Bethel, Barnes was developing a passion for helping students grow as whole people, 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 residence director at Wheaton College for four years, and served as teacher, vice principal, and then principal at Black Forest Academy in Germany before that.

Throughout the years, he's led or taken part in a number of studies for the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities on student life policy; and has been asked to evaluate the academic, campus ministry, and student life programs of other Christian schools.

Barnes' own education includes a B.S. from Wheaton College, an M.A. in Educational Counseling from University of Connecticut, and an Ed.D. in College Student Personnel Work from Loyola University of Chicago. He has also earned certificates in higher education leadership from The Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University, and in fund raising management from Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.

Under all his impressive credentials is first and foremost a heart passionate for God and for what He can do at Bethel.

Seek and Find

The Presidential Search Committee, composed of three faculty members, eight trustees, and one alumna who graduated from both the seminary and the college, spent a year sifting through a long list of experienced candidates. "Through every interaction and every interview with Dr. Barnes, it became very clear that he was the right fit for the position," says Lindh.

On May 20, Bethel's Board of Trustees unanimously nominated Barnes to the 2008 Biennial Assembly of the Bethel University Corporation. "It was obvious to us at the conclusion of the search, and to the Board of Trustees, that Dr. Barnes was the best person to be Bethel’s next president," says Board of Trustees Chair Leith Anderson.

Then, on June 26, Barnes was presented to the delegates at the 2008 Biennial Assembly of the Bethel University Corporation (the same delegates who meet for the biennial meeting of the Baptist General Conference, Bethel’s sponsoring denomination). They also overwhelmingly elected Barnes, and he officially stepped into the presidency on July 1.

"Jay's leadership emerged as collaborative and visionary," says Jeannine Brown, search committee member and professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul. "He expressed a desire to invite key representatives from all areas of Bethel to the table for collaborative decision-making." And collaboration is crucial as all schools of Bethel University continue to grow.

Barnes' commitment to racial reconciliation also set him apart, say search committee members. At Bethel, he helped hire Curtiss DeYoung, professor of reconciliation studies, and Leon Rodrigues, chief diversity officer. He's also visited South Africa to observe its recovery from apartheid, and has been active in promoting study-away opportunities.

Being open to change and innovative ways of doing education in the future also impressed the committee. Says Lindh, "He displays remarkable leadership skills, experience in and passion for Christian higher education, and a vision for the impact Bethel University and its students could have for generations to come."

Acceptance

As the presidential search committee considered candidates, Barnes and his wife, Barbara, prayed hard and asked their friends and family to join them in prayer. "We needed to make sure God was calling us, and usually the way we hear the voice of God most clearly is through the body of believers," Barnes says. In fact, more than 800 people interceded for the presidential search through Bethel's National Prayer Initiative-teams of people meeting to regularly lift up the university and its mission.

And as the committee's search narrowed, Barnes sensed more assurance about moving from provost to president. "It just felt like a natural progression to be in a new role that allows me again to tell Bethel's story-to help gather the resources that will allow good people doing the everyday, in-the-trenches work to make the type of difference that I hope happens."

Barnes' successful track record at Bethel and in Christian education inspires confidence in his colleagues and fellow leaders at Bethel, including newly retired President George Brushaber.

"Throughout his 13 years at Bethel, Jay has shown strength in leadership and a passion for holistic Christian education," says Brushaber. "His dedication, calm, wisdom, and fairness will be valuable assets in his new role. I leave with every confidence that, under Jay's guidance, Bethel will remain true to its biblical moorings and strong core values."

So call him "Jay," and be ready for nothing less than continued transformation.

Says Barnes, "It is all about change. I want Bethel to do better than any place else in the world at changing people’s lives, equipping them, and sending them out to make a difference in the world."

For more on Jay, visit bethel.edu/presidential-search/nominee-bio, and watch for the fall issue, which will feature more about the new president and his wife Barbara-as well as his top goals for Bethel University.