Eastern Nazarene College Announces Coming Presidential Transition

On August 10, 2022, President Jack Connell announced to the faculty and staff of Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) that he will not be seeking a second term in office and will conclude his service as president at the end of the coming academic year. He plans to return home to upstate New York, where he and Wendy can be closer to their parents and he will seek a new opportunity for service.

Dr. Connell stated: “I have come to love ENC and the Boston area over these four years and view my time here as a sacred privilege. I will cherish every day of this final year, and will continue serving with all diligence to ensure that ENC’s Christ-centered mission advances and the transition to a new president is seamless.” Dr. Connell was elected ENC’s 14th president in November of 2018, having served previously as Provost at Houghton College, Executive Vice President at Roberts Wesleyan College, Vice President of Northeastern Seminary, and nineteen years as a local church pastor.

Dr. Melody Eckardt, chair of ENC’s Board of Trustees, said: “On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire ENC community, we want to thank Dr. Connell for his strong leadership of the College during the COVID pandemic and all the stresses of these turbulent times. We are confident in his continued strong leadership though this coming academic year. We now pray for God’s blessing upon the Connells as they transition into a new chapter of their lives and upon us as we seek our next president.”

Dr. Connell will continue as president through Commencement 2023, with a new president presumably starting next summer. The Board of Trustees is already planning the presidential search and will be communicating more information to the community about the search process in the coming weeks.