From the Interim President

As I respond to God’s call to serve SPU in this time, I am filled with gratitude.

After 18 months of COVID-19 restrictions, it was unquestioningly good to be back on campus this year. Returning with COVID still among us tested our capacity at moments, but watching students find community and deeply engage in the classroom, and beyond, roots us in our enduring mission and confirms our resilience in the current context.

Currently, SPU faces a complex array of institutional challenges. While some are universal to college campuses around the country, others are unique to SPU and our peer Christian universities. At the end of May, SPU’s Board of Trustees announced they were upholding current policies that reflect our long-held beliefs of biblical teachings on marriage and sexuality, and that are consistent with the University’s affiliation in the Free Methodist Church. Opinions of students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and community members fall on all sides of this decision. The collective expression of thoughts to me and the Board of Trustees, along with actions taken, demonstrates deep care for SPU, for which I am grateful.

I am incredibly encouraged by the commitment of the SPU community, as we work together with conviction and promise for the future of our strong university.

Please join me in lifting SPU in prayer and celebrating all that the University community has accomplished this past year.