Leadership - Eastern Nazarene College

Colleen R. Derr, Ed.D.

President of Eastern Nazarene College

“ There is no greater joy than working together to fulfill a God-inspired vision and seeing something realized that is far more than any of us could think or imagine on our own. ”

Rev. Dr. Colleen Derr's Biography

Rev. Colleen R. Derr, Ed.D. was born in Bethlehem, PA to Earle and Sylvia Wilson. When her father was named president of United Wesleyan College, the family moved to Allentown, PA, where Dr. Derr spent the remainder of her formative years. As a student at Catasauqua High School, Dr. Derr made grades that qualified her for a joint enrollment program, allowing her to begin college early.

Dr. Derr enrolled in an educational program at United Wesleyan College (now Houghton College), encouraged in part by the special needs class she had been teaching at church. Dr. Derr chose educational preparation and experiences to support a call to ministry through and in Christian education.

From her early career years as an elementary educator, Dr. Derr expanded her breadth of experience to include local church ministry, denominational leadership, and university teaching and executive leadership. She assumed the presidency of Wesley Seminary in Marion, IN, in May 2017.

With significant accomplishments in the areas of enrollment growth, diversity, partnership development, and fundraising, Dr. Derr led Wesley Seminary to become an innovative, transformational, and globally accessible institution that equips Christian leaders to engage in missional ministry locally and throughout the world.

President Derr describes her testimony, “I was privileged to be raised in a Christian home, immersed in the love of God and worship of Him from birth. Mine is a testimony of protection and providence. I can see the hand of God on my life through the lives of people who cared for me, invested in my spiritual development, and lived examples of holiness before me. My passion for ministry is a result of godly women who understood the spiritual potential of a little girl and shared with me incredible stories of God’s grace. Because of their investment in my life, I had the opportunity to ask Jesus into my heart at the age of five and through their tutelage “grew in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man.”  Growing up a pastor’s kid, the church was my playground. Although loving God and worshipping Him was common and typical for me, I clearly remember the service when an evangelist asked if I was willing to surrender all to the Lordship of Christ. It was the scariest moment (confident God would call me to serve Him in a way or place I feared) and yet the most freeing moment of my life. When I look back at the over forty years of fully committed service to Him, I am amazed at the work the Lord has done in my life and the opportunities He has provided. My life has been an incredible journey of growth in Christ; I cannot wait to see what else He has in store!”

Colleen and her husband, Wayne, celebrated 42 years of marriage in May 2023. Wayne, also a graduate of United Wesleyan, built a professional portfolio that revolved around ministry in the Wesleyan Church, first as a nursing home administrator and then as an advancement officer for the denomination and eventually as a Certified Estate Planner (CEP) helping Wesleyans be generous in matters of their wealth management and estate planning.

The Derrs are the proud parents of four adult children: Jerica, Zachary (and Jenny), Tyler (and Sarah), Anna (and Brendon) and their six, soon to be seven, grandchildren: Hudson, Charlotte, Hazel, Harper, Ava, and Houston.

Colleen and Wayne are excited to join Eastern Nazarene College and sense clearly the Lord’s call to this community.