Dear Alumni and Friends of Northwest Nazarene University,
One of the great privileges of serving as President of Northwest Nazarene University is the opportunity to reflect on who we are, why we exist and how God continues to shape our story. Each time I walk our campus, worship in chapel or visit with alumni who carry NNU in their hearts, I am reminded that this institution has always been about formation, calling and faithful obedience.
That is why the theme of this issue of The Messenger Humble in Heart, Bold in Mission—is especially meaningful to me. It was also the guiding theme of my Presidential Inauguration, not because it marked a new direction for NNU, but because it named, in simple and faithful language, what this University has always been, and what I believe God continues to call us to be. That same theme will anchor our future: helping guide the strategic decisions we will make, the priorities we will set and the ways we will prepare students to live faithfully and lead courageously in a changing world. Together, we carry both the responsibility and the privilege of stewarding this mission for the next generation.
From our earliest days, NNU has been grounded in the conviction that Christlikeness begins with humility. We believe education is not merely the accumulation of knowledge, but the transformation of the whole person: heart, soul, mind and strength. Humility keeps us teachable, dependent on God, attentive to others and anchored in grace. It reminds us that our lives, our gifts and our vocations are not self-generated, but God-given.
At the same time, humility has never meant passivity at NNU. A humble heart shaped by Christ produces a boldness rooted not in ego, but in obedience. It forms men and women who step forward in faith, serve sacrificially, lead with courage and carry the love of Christ into the world with confidence and conviction.
This issue of The Messenger tells that story—your story—through the lenses of Faith and Calling, Career and Service and Community and Legacy.
First, Faith and Calling. One of the enduring gifts of an NNU education is the way faith is woven into every dimension of life. Alumni often share that what set their experience apart was not just what they learned, but how they learned to listen to God’s voice, to the needs of others and to the quiet stirrings of calling within their own hearts.
Calling does not always arrive with clarity or certainty. For many, it unfolds gradually, shaped by prayer, mentors, community and sometimes redirection. Yet NNU has long been a place where students are encouraged to ask deeper questions: Who has God created me to be? How am I being called to serve? And how can my life reflect Christ’s redemptive work in the world? Those questions continue to guide those who live out their faith with humility and purpose.
Second, Career and Service. At NNU, we have never drawn a sharp line between vocation and ministry. We believe all work, when offered to God, can be holy work. Whether you serve as teachers, nurses, engineers, pastors, entrepreneurs, artists or caregivers, the common thread is a commitment to excellence shaped by service.
Bold mission shows up in boardrooms and classrooms, hospitals and sanctuaries, research labs and rural communities. It shows up when you lead with integrity, advocate for the marginalized, pursue innovation for the common good and remain faithful amid complexity and change. Your careers are not simply paths of professional advancement; they are platforms for witness, compassion and lasting impact.
Third, Community and Legacy. NNU has always understood that formation happens best in community. From classrooms and residence halls to worship spaces and athletic teams, relationships are central to who we are. The sense of belonging experienced here, the friendships formed, the mentors who invested in you, the faculty and staff who believed in you, continues to ripple outward through your lives and communities.
Legacy, then, is not measured only in buildings or endowments, though those matter. It is measured in lives shaped, students mentored, families strengthened, churches served and communities transformed. It is seen in alumni who give back generously—not just financially, but through prayer, presence and advocacy— ensuring future generations experience the same Christ-centered education that shaped them.
As we look ahead, Northwest Nazarene University remains committed to this sacred work. We are preparing students for a rapidly changing world while holding fast to the unchanging truth of the gospel. We do so with deep gratitude for those who have gone before us and hopeful confidence in what God is still doing.
To our alumni and friends: thank you. Thank you for carrying NNU with you wherever God has called you. Thank you for living humbly, serving faithfully and leading boldly. Your lives are a testimony to the power of an education rooted in Christ and oriented toward service.
May we continue, together, to be a people who are humble in heart grounded in grace and shaped by love, and bold in mission stepping into the world with courage, compassion and conviction for the sake of Christ.
With gratitude,
Mark DeMichael President
MEET MARK & KIM
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FAITH IN FLIGHT
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BADGE
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JOURNEYS OUTFITTING CO. & STUNT \\ 16
SPRING CALENDAR \\ 18
FAITHFUL GIVING, LASTING IMPACT \\ 22
UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT \\ 27 ON CAMPUS \\ 30
LEADING AFTER THE LAST OUT \\ 32
FALL SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS \\ 36
INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHTS \\ 38
PROFILES \\ 40 FROM MISSION FIELDS TO THE
ON THE COVER: PRESIDENT MARK DEMICHAEL & SGA
PRESIDENT \\ Mark DeMichael
V.P. FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS \\ Kelli Lindley
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS \\ Carolyn St. Mary '05
PHOTOGRAPHERS \\ David Kohagan, 20 Katie Rybicki 28
DESIGNER \\ David Kohagan, '20
CONTACT INFORMATION \\ The Messenger 623 S. University Blvd. Nampa, Idaho 83686-5897
208.467.8021 \\ messenger@nnu.edu
MAIN NUMBER \\ 208.467.8011
OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS \\ 208.467.8000
OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS \\ 208.467.8841
OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT \\ 208.467.8423 www.nnu.edu www.facebook.com/northwestnazarene www.instagram.com/nwnazarene
The Messenger is published annually by the Office of Marketing & Communications at Northwest Nazarene University. Postmaster, send address changes to The Messenger, c/o Northwest Nazarene University, 623 S. University Boulevard, Nampa, ID 83686-5897.
PRESIDENT MARK SGA
HUMBLE IN HEART BOLD IN MISSION
Introducing President Mark DeMichael & First Lady Kim DeMichael
When Dr. Mark DeMichael stepped to the podium at his inauguration as the 14th president of Northwest Nazarene University, the words that framed the evening were not ambitious slogans or sweeping promises. Instead, they reflected a posture of humility rooted in Christ and courage shaped by calling. The theme, Humble in Heart, Bold in Mission, was not chosen to describe an aspiration. It named a way of leading that Mark and his wife, Kim, have practiced for decades in Christian higher education, ministry and community life.
For the NNU community, Mark and Kim’s arrival represents both continuity and renewal. They bring deep experience, a shared faith and a relational approach to leadership that resonates with NNU’s historic commitment to forming the whole person spiritually, academically, socially and personally. Their story is not one of seeking prominence, but of answering a call with faithfulness and trust.
When Mark and Kim first encountered the presidential posting for NNU, the decision to explore it was not driven by ambition or advancement. It was alignment. As lifelong participants in Christian higher education, both sensed something familiar and compelling in NNU’s mission. The language of transformation, truth, community and service echoed values that had shaped their own lives since their undergraduate years.
“The biggest draw initially was the alignment and connection we experienced with the NNU mission statement,” they shared. “The more we learned about NNU, the more it felt like home.”
That sense of homecoming is rooted in shared theology and shared practice. NNU’s Christ-centered foundation, its emphasis on formation, and its commitment to preparing students for lives of service reflect the very spaces where Mark and Kim have invested their lives; in classrooms, residence halls, athletic fields, boardrooms and churches.
Mark:
A Relational Leader Formed by Service
Mark’s path to the presidency has been shaped by nearly every corner of campus life.
Before coming to NNU, he spent more than 25 years at Indiana Wesleyan University, most recently serving as Vice President for Student Development and Athletics. In that role, he provided strategic leadership for nine departments, overseeing student success initiatives, campus life and a nationally competitive athletics program.
Before his years at IWU, Mark served as a faculty member and head baseball coach at Eastern Nazarene College, his alma mater. Coaching and teaching shaped his understanding of leadership in formative ways. “When you’re coaching, you’re investing in the whole person,” he has said. “You’re teaching discipline, resilience, teamwork and integrity; lessons that carry far beyond the field.”
Those years also gave him a grounded understanding of faculty life. Having spent 14 years teaching and coaching, Mark understands the rhythms, pressures and joys of academic vocation. That perspective informs his commitment to shared governance and collaborative decisionmaking. He believes leadership is strongest when faculty, staff, students and trustees are engaged as partners in discernment.
Under his leadership, IWU experienced record-high student retention and secured millions of dollars in grants and contributions that strengthened student engagement and campus resources. Yet Mark is quick to point out that metrics, while important, are never the mission. For him, data serves people, not the other way around.
From his earliest days on campus, students and employees alike noticed something
distinctive about Mark’s presence. He listened first. He asked thoughtful questions. He showed up; not just in offices and meetings, but at campus events, student gatherings and everyday moments of life together.
During the inauguration ceremony, student body president Kendrey McGath reflected on this posture, noting Mark’s willingness to immerse himself fully in the community by eating with students, scooping ice cream at Root Beer Fest, participating in campus traditions and more. “[He has] listened with purpose and humility,” she said, affirming the spirit students had already experienced.
At NNU, Mark sees opportunities to invest wisely in the community to strengthen enrollment and ensure longterm financial sustainability. He speaks
given talents for life and learning.”
Kim’s years in the classroom have given her deep empathy for faculty and students alike. She understands the challenges facing education today and brings wisdom shaped by experience and prayer. At NNU, she looks forward to supporting and encouraging the community through hospitality, listening, prayer and relationships.
Mark and Kim approach this season not with fear or nostalgia, but with faith and gratitude and hope.
This humility is not passive. It is active attentiveness, a commitment to understanding before acting. Mark often describes leadership as stewardship, a sacred trust shaped by prayer, discernment and responsibility. In his response during the inauguration, he pledged to lead with faithfulness and integrity, guided by the Holy Spirit and grounded in service.
If humility defines Mark’s posture, boldness defines his vision. His confidence does not come from ego or certainty of outcomes, but from deep trust in God’s faithfulness and in the mission of Christian higher education.
Mark’s background in athletics administration uniquely prepared him to lead with clarity and courage. As a former Athletic Director, he was responsible for strategic recruitment, fundraising, enrollment growth and facility development. He understands how co-curricular programs, particularly athletics, can foster leadership, build character, strengthen student retention and create formative spaces where students learn discipline, teamwork and perseverance alongside their academic work. More importantly, he sees these programs as spaces for spiritual formation and discipleship.
often of stewardship; not simply as fiscal responsibility, but as faithfulness to the resources, people and mission entrusted to the University.
During his inaugural address, Mark emphasized NNU’s mission of transformation of the whole person through habits of heart, soul, mind and strength, grounding his vision in Christ-centered leadership and holistic formation. This boldness is not about innovation for its own sake. It is about faithfully responding to the needs of students and the calling of the Church in a changing world.
Kim DeMichael: Educator, Mentor and Partner in Ministry
While Mark’s role as president places him in visible leadership, Kim DeMichael’s influence is equally formative, though often quieter in expression. An educator at heart, Kim served for 28 years as a faculty member in teacher education at Eastern Nazarene College and Indiana Wesleyan University. Her vocation has always centered on students.
“I’m a teacher by training and disposition,” Kim shared. “I believe in God’s good purpose for each student, meeting them where they are and developing their God-
a belief in the transformative power of Christ-centered learning and community, a belief Mark and Kim now bring to NNU.
In their first season at NNU, the DeMichaels have been intentional about listening. They are committed to building strong relationships across campus and within the broader Church of the Nazarene, particularly on the Northwest Field. For them, leadership begins with being present, learning stories, honoring history and discerning God’s work already underway.
guiding phrase, but as a lived commitment. In Mark and Kim DeMichael, the NNU community has been entrusted with leaders whose lives reflect that balance. They truly are leaders shaped by humility, strengthened by experience and anchored in Christ.
Kim describes herself as a partner in ministry, walking alongside Mark while also bringing her own gifts and calling to the life of the University. Together, they embody a shared commitment to the NNU community, its faith and formation.
A Shared Story Rooted in Faith
Mark and Kim met as students at Eastern Nazarene College, Mark from New Jersey and Kim from Connecticut. Their time at ENC was pivotal, shaping their spiritual lives, work ethic and worldview. Athletics played a significant role in those years, teaching them about balance and discipline, and how to collaborate across every aspect of life.
Together, they have raised two daughters, Ashley and Kasey, and gained a son-inlaw, David. Their family’s connection to Christian higher education spans generations. Ashley serves as Director of Global Initiatives and Programs at Asbury University, while Kasey and David both serve at Indiana Wesleyan University: Kasey in the School of Theology and Ministry as Director of Student Engagement Ministry and Director of Student Engagement for Youth Ministry Events, and David as Sports Information Director. Though distance now separates them geographically, the family remains closely connected through weekly FaceTime calls and shared travel.
This generational commitment to Christian higher education is not accidental. It reflects
Faculty Chair Dr. Heidi Curtis reflected this hope during the inauguration, noting that the faculty had prayed for a leader who would listen deeply, speak wisely and walk humbly.
“May your leadership be both steady and bold,” she said, “rooted in truth and guided by the call to seek first God’s kingdom.”
That prayer perfectly captures this moment in time at NNU. The University stands within a rich legacy, yet faces new challenges and opportunities. Mark and Kim approach this season not with fear or nostalgia, but with faith and gratitude and hope.
Beyond their professional commitments, Mark and Kim enjoy an active, connected life. They love walking, playing pickleball, exploring new places and engaging in small groups, church life and community events. As they settle into Nampa, they look forward to building the same kind of spiritual and relational connections they cherished in Indiana.
Their prayer for NNU is simple and profound: that students, faculty and staff would experience the transforming love of Christ and be equipped to serve faithfully in the world. “We love to laugh, experience life on campus and walk with people wherever they are,” they shared. “Our hope is that people see us as approachable, missiondriven and committed to the work God is doing at NNU.”
As Northwest Nazarene University enters this new chapter, the theme Humble in Heart, Bold in Mission serves not only as a
Their story is still being written, now intertwined with the story of NNU. And together, as a community rooted in faith and purpose, the work continues faithfully, courageously and with hope and excitement for what God will do next.
MARK DEMICHAEL READS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
KIM DEMICHAEL AT THE FALL PARTY
Faith in Flight:
How NNU Helped Me Find My Calling, Career and Legacy
In the spring of 2009, I walked through the doors of the Boise Airport as a full-fledged Delta Air Lines employee, excited for the adventures that lay ahead, anxious to be accepted and utterly unaware of what the future would hold. I had no idea then that this career would become not only a livelihood but also a platform for faith and service. Nor could I have predicted how a connection with Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) would eventually deepen my understanding of my calling and the community I experienced in ways that would shape both my professional and personal life.
Finding My Way
I was born in Idaho but moved several times throughout my childhood between the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest and eventually back to Idaho, where I graduated from Nampa High School. My parents were both educated college graduates who instilled in us the importance of learning and perseverance. Yet, after high school, I couldn’t quite find my direction. I attended a few universities in Idaho but never felt
that spark of clarity. To my parents’ disappointment, I left college, and their later relief when I met my husband, and threw myself into the joys and responsibilities of family life.
Life moved fast. Raising a young family and managing everyday challenges filled my world. But beneath it all, there was a quiet, persistent sense that I was meant to do more. That there was something unfinished within me that I wanted to accomplish. Still, with the busyness of family life, the timing never seemed right until one day, NNU reached out. I can’t remember exactly how they found me, perhaps through a questionnaire or an old record, but I do remember the conversation changed my life. NNU shared information about their distance-learning program, the Adult Step Program, designed specifically for working adults with families. The representative also mentioned that my earlier math and science credits were nearing their expiration and that retaking them could become costly. That insight, and the warmth and understanding in that conversation, sparked my motivation to return to school.
Faith, Education and a Career That Took Flight
Almost immediately after starting with Delta Air Lines, my world expanded. Delta opened my eyes to a culture of care for people and for excellence. I discovered that I loved helping others, creating memorable travel experiences and representing a
brand that values integrity, empathy and service. It wasn’t just a job; it felt like a calling.
When I learned that Delta offered a scholarship program for continuing education, the decision to finish my degree became clear. It was as though God had orchestrated the timing perfectly, merging my passion for people, my career and my long-held dream of completing my education.
Through NNU, I rediscovered my purpose. My advisor, Heather Beam, and Dr. Jones, were constant sources of encouragement. They helped me navigate the challenges of balancing all areas of my life, including my family. They celebrated my victories, big and small, and reminded me to “reach for the stars,” even when exhaustion or doubt crept in.
At NNU, I learned that education is not just about earning a degree. It’s also about growing in every way as a whole person. I was challenged to see the world differently, to engage with thoughtful dialogue and to remove biases that limited understanding. The classes and discussions taught me that when you truly listen, communicate well and seek understanding, you not only become a better student, you become a better person.
Service and Community in Action
It took me longer than most to graduate, but I never felt discouraged. Delta’s culture is unique; advancement isn’t based on simply checking the box. Instead, the company values authenticity and those who care deeply about their colleagues and customers. My degree might not have changed my position immediately, but it profoundly enhanced my ability to connect with and serve people, to appreciate cultures different from my own and to approach every interaction with curiosity.
Travel became my classroom. Every destination, every passenger, every challenge was an opportunity to apply what I learned at NNU: that service is a form of ministry, and that our daily work can be a reflection of faith. Whether helping a nervous traveler, working with a corporate client or mentoring a colleague, I began to view my role as a way to serve others and reflect Christ-like compassion in the modern workplace.
The Joy of Lifelong Learning
My experience at NNU was so transformative that when I completed my undergraduate degree, the decision to pursue my MBA was an easy one. If possible, I loved that
program even more than the one before. By then, my family had grown, my career had advanced and I had learned to balance life’s many moving pieces with grace (and sometimes just grit). The coursework pushed me in ways I hadn’t anticipated, and was applicable in real-life workplace scenarios. It deepened not only my professional competence but also my faith in the value of perseverance.
There were moments of frustration: one particularly stubborn accounting class comes to mind, but I pushed through (all thanks to Professor Jeremy Wonch and my fellow students). When I finally earned my MBA, I celebrated with a trip to Fiji with friends. It felt fitting for an airline professional who believed the journey mattered just as much as the destination.
Faith and Compassion in the Valleys
Faith, of course, isn’t just built on mountaintop moments; it’s refined in the valleys. Over the years, life has brought challenges that have tested and strengthened my faith. My husband’s cancer diagnosis was one of those moments. Walking through that with him changed my heart. It made me more aware of the silent struggles others carry and more intentional about showing kindness.
My dear friend and advisor, Heather, lost her husband to cancer years earlier. Remembering her strength during that time made me realize that no one should ever have to cry alone.
When we show authentic kindness, without expectation or recognition, it often comes from a place of having experienced pain ourselves. That empathy becomes a bridge, a way of turning our own trials into compassion for others.
that reflects every facet of who I am as a Christ-follower.
When I think about legacy, I don’t think of titles or accomplishments.
I think about the people I’ve met, the students I’ve studied with, the
“Northwest Nazarene University didn’t just give me a degree. It helped me find my direction, deepen my faith and understand that calling is less about what we achieve for ourselves and more about how we show up for others.”
At Delta, in my community and within my family, I’ve tried to live out that calling. To me, faith and service are inseparable. No matter what I'm doing or who I’m with, each act of care is a small reflection of Christ’s love.
Looking back, I see how God intertwined every part of my story, my upbringing, my education, my career, my relationships, into something purposeful and powerful.
NNU gave me more than a degree; it gave me perspective. It taught me that calling isn’t a single moment of revelation but a lifelong process of listening and responding to where you are needed most.
Today, as I continue my career at Delta Air Lines, I see my work as both service and stewardship, representing a brand that cares deeply for its people and passengers while also striving to uplift my community in Boise and across the globe. My NNU education gave me tools for leadership, but more importantly, it gave me a framework for living a life
travelers I’ve helped, the friends I’ve walked alongside and the loved ones who’ve inspired me to keep going. My legacy, I hope, is one of kindness, courage and connection.
From the day I walked into the Boise Airport in 2009 to today, faith has been the constant thread weaving through my journey. It’s what guided me back to school, sustained me through challenges and continues to shape how I show up each day.
Northwest Nazarene University didn’t just give me a degree. It helped me find my direction, deepen my faith and understand that calling is less about what we achieve for ourselves and more about how we show up for others.
As I look to the future, I carry that same sense of excitement I felt walking into Delta for the first time, still learning how faith and service take shape in the everyday moments ahead.
A Life of FAITH & SERVICE From Mission Fields to the Badge
BY OFFICER DAN SMITH Kenai Police Department, Class of 2002
My journey to becoming a police officer did not begin the day I stepped off a plane onto a remote island in Alaska, wearing a borrowed suit and a freshly shaved head while instructors from the Alaska State Trooper Academy barked orders at me. Nor did my years serving as a missionary in Latin America begin the moment I crossed a foreign border with shaky Spanish and wide-eyed uncertainty. Both journeys began long before I ever set foot in Venezuela or put on a badge. Their roots reach back to dorm rooms, chapels, classrooms, friendships and the generational legacy of Northwest Nazarene University.
My connection to NNU ran far deeper than enrollment paperwork. My grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, brother, cousins and many friends and mentors had attended before me. That heritage created a spiritual and relational foundation that made NNU feel warm and familiar before I ever arrived. I grew up hearing stories of “NNC”: dorm life, adventures, friendships, mentors, missions, worship, professors who cared deeply and a campus community shaped by faith. I visited with my youth group and met students through traveling ministries.
Looking back, choosing NNU felt less like a decision and more like stepping into a story God had been writing for generations.
I could never have predicted how profoundly my years at NNU would influence my worldview, faith, friendships and career, from mission work in South America and Mexico to becoming a police officer in Alaska. At my 20th reunion, after years away, I was reminded of the lasting friendships and connections shaped on that campus, and how welcome and nostalgic I felt returning.
At NNU, faith was not confined to Sundays or chapel. It permeated everything. Late-night conversations in dorm rooms, mentoring relationships and experiences that stretched my understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. Through the University, I had the opportunity to serve foster children at Hope House, worked with College Church to help the hungry and vulnerable and joined classmates on service trips. I recall Dr. Waller driving our entire class to San Francisco to serve in some of the toughest areas I had ever seen. I don’t remember the class title or the academic
material, but I remember the impact. Loving God and loving others became more than ideals, they became action, and over time a compass for my life.
Academically, I was a mediocre student. Adventure and friendship often intruded on my study time. But with the help of friends—and even more so, professors who truly cared—I kept decent grades. They taught, encouraged, mentored and sometimes nagged me to stay focused. These traits were missing during my freshman year at Boise State. As a young man far from my small Alaskan hometown and often in over my head, NNU staff made me feel welcomed and cared for like family. Scholarships helped financially, and I worked as a janitor, tutor and at Hope House to pay the bills. I even made a little money fixing Richard Hagood’s VW Beetle and laying brick for Dr. Ponsford.
Life outside class was full. I experienced dorm fun, Root Beer Fest, Fresheree, camping trips in canyons, mountains and hot springs, road trips, bridge-swinging, ice-blocking and “studying” at One More Cup, the Yogurt Affair or late nights at Shari’s. I also managed my fair share of harmless campus trouble. My Resident Directors and campus security showed my friends and me a lot of grace in Sutherland, Corlett and Olsen. Their patience has helped shape me into a police officer able to extend the same discretion to college-age kids still figuring out life. Nampa PD was called a few times because of our antics. Sorry, Mom and Dad.
A defining experience during my college years was a shortterm mission trip to Venezuela, led by Gene Schandorff, Karen Pearson and others brave enough to bring students into the heart of South America to serve with missionaries Craig and Gail Zickefoose. It was my first time so far outside my known world. The warmth of the people, their resilience, their love for God, the raw environments, logistical challenges, hard work and the presence of God awakened something in me. I thrived in it. That trip changed how I saw the world, others, mission work and myself.
I had prepared for a career in law enforcement, but after graduating I wasn’t ready to begin. God had different plans. I left NNU with a degree in Psychology, a minor in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in friendship, fun and faith. An internship led quickly to a social work job in Nampa, and I learned that my NNU degree earned me an immediate raise; money I badly needed. That education benefited me far more than I expected, and it helped open
doors later in policing which had a degree requirement. I stayed connected with friends, attended College Church and lived with my brother and friends in a very old house next to “Razor Ray’s” barber shop, since torn down, but still vivid in memory.
Working in Idaho, I felt a growing desire to serve abroad again. My short time in Venezuela had ignited something. Hoping to take short mission trips and travel, I took a job with Horizon Airlines as a baggage handler for the flight benefits. Then, out of nowhere, Nazarene missionary Jon Fischer called. We had never met; I still don’t know how he got my number. He said they needed help and asked why I would travel aimlessly when I could serve somewhere with need, support and purpose. Chucking bags at the Boise Airport could wait.
I prayed, talked to family and soon boarded a plane to Caracas for a six-month commitment with Nazarenes in Voluntary Service. I arrived with just enough money to get home. Again, God had other plans. They kept me for two years. It was a perfect fit. I loved the people, the landscape and the work. I lived at Campamento Jiraquito in the foothills of the Andes, serving with the Fischer and Zickefoose families and wonderful Venezuelan pastors and people. We kept the camp running, supported ministries, traveled across the country and worked with Venezuelans in established churches and new church plants. I formed friendships I still cherish.
My time in Venezuela changed me deeply. I learned that joy doesn’t depend on circumstances, that generosity thrives in scarcity and that the love of Jesus transcends every barrier. I learned practical things too: how to grocery shop in rural towns, how to deal with police, how to get lost and un-lost and how to talk soccer and Jesus all in mediocre Spanish. I learned that serving God includes cleaning bathrooms, cutting back jungle, repairing vehicles, hand mixing
concrete and even evicting iguanas from your bed. My worldview continued to shift, and my desire to live a life of service grew stronger, though I still didn’t know where it would lead next.
Returning to Idaho after two years abroad was unexpectedly difficult. The comfort and ease of American life felt strange after living in another culture. But my
worlds apart. But a family friend—then Lieutenant Kim Wannamaker, an NNC alumnus—told me about openings in his department. I applied, tested and was hired near my hometown on the Kenai Peninsula.
Leaving Mexico was emotional. I said goodbye to people who had become like family, packed everything into my 1979 MGB and drove north. Naturally, I stopped in Nampa—where I had been shaped, supported and sent out twice already. After reconnecting with family, friends and the campus, I continued to Alaska and on to the academy.
Joy doesn’t depend on circumstances, generosity thrives in scarcity and the love of Jesus transcends every barrier.
NNU community stepped in. Friends connected with the University helped me find a home, secure a masonry job during the construction boom and regain footing when I didn’t have two dimes to rub together. Community, true Christian community, carried me again.
After a couple years of laying bricks, block and stone in the heat, I began feeling it might finally be time to pursue policing. But God interrupted again. A College Church friend invited me on a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, even offering to cover my expenses. I couldn’t say no. Building a home with a Mexican family through Amor Ministries stirred my heart again, reminding me of the same crosscultural love I had felt in Venezuela. I found that the ministry’s values aligned perfectly with mine.
Still uncertain about policing, I chose to move to Mexico and serve full-time with Amor. I worked alongside Mexican families and volunteers from many denominations. We built homes, strengthened communities and helped meet basic needs. I witnessed incredible faith, generosity, humility and resilience. Once again, my worldview shifted. God showed me how He uses anyone willing to reduce suffering in His name.
Still, Alaska tugged at me. I missed my family, the landscape and the sense of home. Political changes at the border signaled upcoming shifts, similar to what I had seen in Venezuela before leaving. I sensed my season in Mexico was ending. I began applying for police work in Alaska, unsure how my missionary heart would mesh with law enforcement. On the surface the careers seemed
It didn’t take long to realize my faith, years abroad and calling to love and serve others were not at odds with policing; they were essential to it. Compassion, patience, crisis management, cultural understanding and even my Spanish became invaluable. My experiences helped me communicate across divides, understand suffering and walk into people’s worst moments with empathy and steadiness. My faith in Jesus has held me together in times where I stared evil in the face. All of it has made me a better peace officer.
This year marks my 17th year with the Kenai Police Department. I’ve served as a patrol officer, detective, school resource officer, trainer and teacher. In every role, I’ve seen that people are people, wherever they live. All long for belonging, love, justice, compassion, accountability, peace, grace and restoration. We all need Jesus.
From South American jungles to Mexican border communities to snowy Alaska, the love of Jesus has remained constant, and through every chapter, I’ve encountered the NNU family, people shaped by the same community that shaped me.
Looking back, it is clear that my time at Northwest Nazarene University had a lifelong influence on my worldview, my calling, my communities and the paths I’ve walked. NNU taught me to listen for God’s voice, to step boldly into service and to trust that Christ goes before me, whether in missions, policing or everyday life.
My story began at NNU, and its impact continues to guide me every single day.
Officer Dan Smith
BY LANCE HOWARD DIRECTOR OF JOURNEYS OUTFITTING CO.
JOURNEYS OUTFITTING CO. STUNT
NNU’s Journeys Outfitting Co. has a rich history of being a vibrant educational community that integrates recreation and the outdoors while reflecting our Christian faith. We’ve had the unbelievable opportunity to see both humility in leadership and the blessing of meaningful relationships while boldly connecting our faith in God and exploring God’s creation.
Journeys’ mission of serving our community by offering students the opportunity to build relationships has been shared by both our current SGA President and our Journeys student leaders:
“Journeys gave me a chance to step outside my comfort zone and make new relationships that will last a lifetime.”
KENDREY MCGATH
SGA PRESIDENT 2025-2026
“There’s an excitement about getting to plan out an activity, event or overnight trip that will allow students to explore God’s creation, meet new friends and make memories.”
ELLI CLARK
INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR 2025-2026
“Being involved in Journeys has widened my perspective on the beauty and extravagance of God’s creation. I’ve seen His hand in the outdoors: the jagged mountain peak of Mt. Rainier, the towering magnificence of the Redwood trees and the vast canyons of Zion.”
SHELBY SKEEN
GRAPHIC DESIGN LEAD 2024-2026
“As a leader, it is the most rewarding experience to watch other students become friends and groups become families. Journeys is about the students. This is exemplified so abundantly, by the genuine, humble and fearless leadership of Lance Howard. I have learned to be a leader by his example and service to all students.”
EMMA CORBUS
GRAPHIC DESIGN LEAD 2022-2026
As evidenced by the testimonies of our student leaders, Journeys provides accessible outdoor excursions that help to strengthen the mind, body and spirit. This year we’ve emphasized an additional spiritual element on our big break trips’ final night, through worship, a student speaker and sharing celebrations and highlights from the trip. Over the years, we’ve had over 60+ students that have been able to grow their personal and professional skills by serving in Journeys leadership. Furthermore, we’ve been providing opportunities for NNU students to try new things by organizing events and activities for both entertainment and enjoyment via our on-campus events, daytrips and overnight trips on the weekends and NNU holidays. To date, Journeys has had over 2,000+ participants, traveled over 50,000+ miles, been to 17+ National Parks and a variety of other destinations across the U.S. and Canada.
When I first said yes to becoming the inaugural head coach of STUNT at NNU, I felt God nudging me into something bigger than just coaching a new program. Starting STUNT has been a faith-driven journey from day one.
Starting STUNT at NNU has been a faith-driven journey from day one. Before we ever stepped onto a mat, we had to build a team. I started with a simple prayer: to pursue excellence with character and Jesus at the center, building a team culture rooted in unwavering faith, authentic community and an eagerness to serve one another. That's what "humble in heart, bold in mission" means to me, and to us as a team.
What is STUNT and who are these new athletes on campus?
STUNT is still a new sport to many people, and I love having the chance to introduce it. Unlike traditional cheerleading, STUNT focuses exclusively on technical, head-tohead routines: stunts, pyramids, tumbling, jumps and team routines. It’s structured, competitive and team-oriented, giving athletes with a wide range of skill sets a genuine opportunity to shine. Bases, top girls, tumblers, every role matters and every role is recruited for their specific talent.
I get especially excited about how STUNT levels the playing field. There’s room for the athlete who never felt
BY KELLI RICH STUNT COACH
NNU’S NEW SPORT
like she fit the traditional cheer mold, and room for strength, leadership, grit and heart in every form.
My deepest hope is that the women on this team feel like they're part of a family; a place where they are known, supported, challenged and loved. It's about servanthood. It's about letting God's grace fill in all the places where our own strength ends.
From the beginning, 2 Corinthians 9:8–11 has shaped this program. We don’t rely on our own abilities alone. God equips us for the purpose and mission He has called us to.
We learn from leaders who emphasize character, clarity and courage, but above all we seek to lead like Jesus. Team spirit, as John Wooden described it, is an eagerness to put others first. To me, that's humility in action. And at the same time, scripture calls us to boldness, to step forward in the mission God has given us with confidence, gratitude and purpose. That is exactly the posture we take as a team.
The most rewarding part of this journey isn’t practice or preparation. It’s watching these young women deepen their faith, build lasting friendships and discover that their purpose is bigger than who they are as an athlete. My hope is that they leave knowing who they are in Jesus and confident in the calling on their lives.
My desire is for them to carry confidence rooted not in achievement, but in identity; knowing they are loved, capable and called for a God life.
As we gear up for our first official season, I’m grateful for the chance to build something new, meaningful and lasting and most importantly, something that glorifies God. STUNT at NNU is more than a sport. It’s a mission and a family, a group of young women learning to be humble in heart and bold in mission. Go NIGHTHAWKS!
Photo by: Curtis Galvin
UPCOMING EVENTS
DURING INAUGURATION
PRESIDENT MARK DEMICHAEL
ALUMNI NEWS
Catch up on classmate updates and accomplishments
In Memory
Phyllis Wilhite -39- On January 5, 2024, in Bismarck, ND
Beatrice Wilson -44- On March 1, 2025, in Gardner, KS
Bette Hendrix -47- On February 2, 2024, in Phoenix, AZ
Delores Watt -48- On September 10, 2025, in Grand Ronde, OR
Doris Helikson -49- On October 2, 2024, in Eugene, OR
Joanne Weatherford -49- On November 14, 2024, in Keizer, OR
Ruby Boyd Cramer -49- On April 2, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Juanita Carpenter -49- On April 24, 2025, in The Dalles, OR
Afton Wilde -50- On October 25, 2024, in Nampa, ID
Maureen Vredevelt -50- On June 4, 2024, in Nampa, ID
Betty Reber -50- On May 13, 2025, in San Antonio, TX
Harold Beggs -51- On April 12, 2025, in Clarkston, WA
Dorothy Toews -51- On October 26, 2025, in Turlock, CA
Lois Herringshaw -52- On May 11, 2024, in Nampa, ID
Warren Boyd -52- On October 20, 2024, in Abbotsford, BC
Willard Bradburn -52- On February 18, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Roger Weber -54- On December 18, 2024, in Lacy, WA
Gale Gray -54- On May 21, 2025, in Viola, ID
L. Personette -54- On August 15, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Ethel Sheehan -55- On May 24, 2024, in Alhambra, CA
Diane Swanson -56- On January 11, 2024, in Olalla, WA
Howard Slemmer -56- On February 3, 2025, in Spokane Valley, WA
Keith Cummings -56- On July 28, 2025, in Ellensburg, WA
Alfred Nettleton -56- On November 25, 2025, in Winterville, GA
Harold ‘Hal’ Weber -56- On December 26, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Marvin Richardson -57- On August 3, 2024, in Middleburg, FL
Annie Humphrey -57- On October 18, 2024, in Portland, OR
Mary Finkbeiner -57- On January 31, 2025, in Redmond, OR
Eugene Castle -58- On November 7, 2024, in Centralia, WA
Marilyn Nunez -58- On February 2, 2024, in Kittredge, CO
Caroline Cotner -58- On March 23, 2025, in Ontario, OR
Ronald Fry -58- On October 17, 2025, in Downsview, ON
Ronald Kratzer -58- On November 2, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Phyllis Reece -59- On August 1, 2024, in Nampa, ID
R. Oberg -59- On November 26, 2024, in Florence, OR
Muriel Caven -59- On May 19, 2025, in Meridian, ID
John Hahn -59- On August 26, 2025, in Craigmont, ID
Ben Sherrill -59- On August 30, 2025, in Meridian, ID
Roger Burkhart -60- On November 14, 2024, in Dover, NH
Lois Skiles -60- On December 11, 2024, in Albany, OR
Arvid Kreps -60- On January 29, 2025, in Caldwell, ID
Patricia Nees -60- On February 14, 2025, in Fulton, MD
Stanley Tromburg -60- On April 10, 2025, in Meridian, ID
Alfred Jones -60- On May 29, 2025, in Valley Center, CA
Carol Arnold -60- On June 7, 2025, in Cascade, ID
Kenneth Bergstrom -61- On March 25, 2024, in Nampa, ID
Anna Whitmus -61- On April 2, 2024, in Wolf Point, MT
David Bunn -61- On June 11, 2024, in Dayton, OR
Lucille Pedersen-Nawy -61- On September 23, 2024, in San Diego, CA
A. Newby -61- On October 5, 2024, in Blaine, WA
Ronald McGilvra -61- On December 5, 2024, in Champlin, MN
David Belzer -61- On January 28, 2025, in Chandler, AZ
Carroll Warwick -62- On October 19, 2024, in Meridian, ID
Geneva McCoy Jardine -62- On January 1, 2025, in Twin Falls, ID
Kathie Etulain -62- On June 10, 2025, in Sitka, AK
Myrl Winkle -62- On June 16, 2025, in Loganville, GA
Dorothea Nichols -62- On October 1, 2025, in Wenatchee, WA
Glenn Larsen Estate -63- On April 11, 2024, in Nampa, ID
Charles Hodges -63- On February 3, 2025, in Aberdeen, SD
Ernest McNaught -63- On February 22, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Lewis Weigelt -63- On March 19, 2025, in Manfred, ND
Judith Kinney -64- On July 21, 2024, in Star, ID
Patricia Shoemake -64- On December 10, 2024, in Lewiston, ID
Don Gibbens -65- On June 28, 2024, in Tucson, AZ
Stanley Wilson -65- On March 1, 2025, in Gardner, KS
Dan Trueblood -66- On July 3, 2024, in Seattle, WA
Linda Churchill -66- On September 1, 2024, in Wasilla, AK
Janet Easley -66- On April 5, 2025, in Caldwell, ID
Kathryn Burns -66- On June 24, 2025, in Boise, ID
Julia Frost -66- On June 25, 2025, in Eagle, ID
Roy Jones -67- On January 14, 2024, in Kerrville, TX
Keith Kirkeide -67- On May 2, 2025, in Jacksonville, FL
Melvin Wikoff -67- On October 16, 2025, in Grangeville, ID
Arlene Moore -68- On March 20, 2025, in Mount Vernon, WA
Richard Burnett -69- On October 20, 2024, in Spokane, WA
Karen Mangum -69- On April 4, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Sharon Stierwalt-Everts -69- On June 13, 2025, in Ephrata, WA
Carol Potter -69- On July 6, 2025, in Salem, OR
Arlene Stewart -70- On February 14, 2025, in San Dimas, CA
Don Josephson -71- On September 4, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV
Darlene Brasch -72- On October 8, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Dwight Thiessen -73- On April 6, 2024, in Savage, MT
Vicki Anderson -73- On July 8, 2025
Teryl Ketchum -74- On July 19, 2024, in Lacey, WA
Robin Holmquist -75- On April 13, 2024, in Grand View, ID
Roger Holden -76- On July 12, 2025, in Baker City, OR
Walter Quanstrom -76- On July 19, 2025, in Gold Canyon, AZ
Michael Rap -77- On November 24, 2024, in Tempe, AZ
Jean Swan -77- On March 7, 2025, in Blue Eye, MO
Janet Wilber -77- On April 10, 2025, in Greenleaf, ID
Darrell Curtis -77- On April 26, 2025, in Torrington, WY
Debra Alexander -78- On October 12, 2024, in Boise, ID
Ronald Creasman -78- On July 29, 2025, in Tracy, CA
Billy Gilbert -80- On October 9, 2024, in Caldwell, ID
Karen Crow -80- On August 26, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Deborah Dykhouse -81- On January 19, 2025, in Fairfield, CT
Essa Gaye -82- On April 2, 2025, in Bantul, Indonesia
Peggy Logan -83- On June 8, 2025, in Fossil, OR
Roland Cooke -84- On September 25, 2024, in Portland, OR
Sallie Weber -84- On November 24, 2024, in Taylorsville, UT
Steven Allison -85- On November 15, 2025, in Bloomfield, IN
Ronald Freeborn -86- On September 15, 2024, in Lillington, NC
Donnie Frazier -87- On October 24, 2024, in Medford, OR
Vance Lund -87- On May 25, 2025, in Kinnear, WY
Beverly Laird -88- On March 10, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Londa Rap-Paul -88- On September 10, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Tanya Smith -95- On March 7, 2025, in Richland, WA
Randy Williams -05- On July 29, 2024, in Boise, ID
Rudolph Prescod -10- On October 4, 2024, in Santa Cruz, CA
Carolyn Savell -12- On June 9, 2024, in Juliaetta, ID
Connie Petersen -15- On March 27, 2025, in Boise, ID
Serena Bennett -25- On May 18, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Benjamin Turner -Friend- On September 22, 2024, in Boise, ID
John Skaggs -Friend- On January 22, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Carolyn Kling-Keech -Friend- On February 14, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Sue Kinzler -Friend- On March 20, 2025, in McCall, ID
Reese Verner -Friend- On June 29, 2025, in Nampa, ID
Vonda Downs -Friend- On October 21, 2025, in Eagle, ID
James Diehl -Former General Superintendent- On November 2, 2025, in Lakewood, CO
William Campton -Former Professor- On December 1, 2025, in Billings, MT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1980s
Ryan Roberts -88- published his first book, “Nudgings: Gentle Whispers, Holy Reminders” which is available on Amazon.
1990s
Detmetiros McBride -99- was recently named Assistant Vice President of Iredell Physician Network.
2000s
Ben Hausch -01- was recently promoted to Regional Director for Bay Area at Chase Bank and will join the California Division Leadership Team. Ben has worked for Chase for 28 years.
2010s
Laura Malaise -12- is the Chief Nursing Officer for Holy Cross Hospital in West Valley, Utah.
Darren King -13- recently launched his own CPA firm in Sandpoint, serving clients in Northern Idaho and beyond.
2020s
Skye Johnson -20- obtained his law degree from Gonzaga School of Law and is now an associate with Foreman, Hotchkiss, Bauscher & Zimmerman in Wenatchee.
Malachi Tesarik -25- graduated in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and stayed in the Boise Valley to work for Veritas Construction Services as an estimator & engineer in training.
UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS
NIGHTHAWKS FLIGHT CLUB – PHOENIX, AZ
March 18
NORTHWEST DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
April 8-10
WASHINGTON PACIFIC DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
April 12-14
ALASKA DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
April 17
INTERMOUNTAIN DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
April 23-24
GOLDEN GRAD WEEKEND
May 8-9
OREGON PACIFIC DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
May 14-15
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
June 19-20
COLORADO DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
June 25-26
NIGHTHAWKS FLIGHT CLUB – LEAVENWORTH, WA
July 23-26
HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND
November 5 - 7
Celebrating the Class Reunions of 1981, 1990/91/92, 2001, 2005/2006/2007, 2020/2021/2022 KNOW A STUDENT WHO WOULD MAKE A GREAT
FUTURE NIGHTHAWK?
Refer them at NNU.EDU/REFERRAL and you can both earn some NNU gear!
DON’T MISS A SINGLE EVENT!
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ALL THE ALUMNI NEWS AND HAPPENINGS AT NNU.EDU/ALUMNI
HOMECOMING NIGHTHAWKS 5K
NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY
REV. DR. NATHAN ROSKAM NAMED UNIVERSITY CHAPLAIN
Northwest Nazarene University has announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Nathan Roskam as its new University Chaplain. Roskam will begin his role in March 2026.
A two-time graduate of Northwest Nazarene University, Roskam earned his Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication in 2001 and his Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation in 2009. He later completed a Doctor of Ministry at Portland Seminary. His longstanding history with NNU includes service as Campus Ministries Coordinator within the Student Government Association, where he partnered closely with the University Chaplain to support student discipleship, oversee ministry clubs and help shape campus spiritual life.
Roskam brings more than two decades of pastoral leadership within the Church of the Nazarene, most recently serving as Lead Pastor at Lakeview Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. Throughout his ministry, he has been recognized as a relational and visiondriven leader with a deep commitment to holistic discipleship and spiritual formation, particularly among emerging adults. His leadership experience also includes nonprofit executive work, global missions engagement and community advocacy around issues of housing and serving vulnerable populations.
As University Chaplain, Roskam will provide leadership for spiritual life at NNU, cultivating environments where worship,
discipleship and community life foster deep formation in students.
“Nate understands that spiritual formation is not something we simply add to the student experience. It is central to who we are as a Christ-centered university,” said NNU President Mark DeMichael. “At NNU, we
care deeply about the transformation of the whole person, heart, soul, mind and strength. We want to shape women and men who love Christ first, serve others well and step into the world as His redemptive agents. Nate brings a pastoral heart; theological depth and a genuine relational warmth that
will help guide our students into that kind of lifelong calling.”
DeMichael added, “This is an important and meaningful appointment for our University. Nate loves NNU, and he understands both our heritage and our future. He carries a clear vision for spiritual leadership that is Christ-centered, invitational and rooted in authentic community. I am grateful for the way his life and ministry reflect the humble, faithful leadership we seek to cultivate in our students as they pursue excellence and live boldly in mission.”
Roskam’s philosophy of Christian higher education reflects a vision in which faith and learning are inseparable, where intellectual growth and spiritual transformation develop together in community. He views teaching and leadership as pastoral acts that invite students into true belonging and Christlikeness.
Roskam and his family will transition to campus leadership in the coming months as he completes his current pastoral responsibilities.
With Roskam’s appointment, Northwest Nazarene University looks ahead with anticipation to a renewed season of spiritual vitality, intentional discipleship and Christcentered formation for its students.
FAITHFUL GIVING, LASTING IMPACT
For Elma and Zelma Doerksen, Northwest Nazarene University has always been close to home. Their family moved to Nampa when they were just three years old because of NNU, and the University quickly became part of the world they grew up in, woven into their church and the relationships that shaped them.
That connection grew in different ways over time. Zelma graduated from NNU in 1979 and remains grateful for the experiences she had. For Elma, it was NNU’s mission and steady commitment to Christ-centered education that drew her in. Living nearby, they’ve watched the University continue to shape students’ lives, and that consistency made supporting NNU feel natural.
The Doerksen sisters' faithful giving and generosity are grounded in faith. For Elma and Zelma, generosity is less about recognition and more about believing in something that lasts. They hope future students will experience transformation just as so many have before them.
IMPACT THE FUTURE OF NNU
Every gift helps carry NNU’s legacy forward. If your life has been shaped by the University, or if you believe in the kind of education it offers, we invite you to consider supporting the students and mission of Northwest Nazarene University.
Leavenworth
We’re excited to invite NNU alumni and friends to Nighthawks Flight Club:
Leavenworth, a special weekend getaway designed to deepen connections and build community beyond the NNU campus. The Nighthawks Flight Club brings alumni together to explore meaningful destinations while enjoying shared activities, meals, worship and fellowship. This year’s trip runs Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26, in beautiful Leavenworth, Washington with lodging, group dinners and planned activities included.
Learn more about the Nighthawks Flight Club experience and register to secure your spot at NNU.EDU/NIGHTHAWKS-FLIGHT-CLUB
BECOME AN NNU
President’s Associate
YOU’RE INVITED TO BE PART OF SOMETHING MEANINGFUL!
Join the President’s Associates Community
Give $1,000 or more between July 1 and June 30 and become a President’s Associate for the next fiscal year.
For those who care about NNU’s mission, becoming a President’s Associate is a meaningful way to support students and invest in the University Fund, meeting our most pressing needs.
As a thank you, President’s Associates receive complimentary event tickets and invitations to exclusive gatherings with fellow supporters and the President.
Ready to make your impact? Learn more or give today at NNU.EDU/GIVE.
GIVING HIGHLIGHT
Planned Giving, often called legacy giving, is a thoughtful way to include Northwest Nazarene University in your long-term financial or estate plan, so your impact continues beyond your lifetime. It includes options such as bequests through a will or trust, naming NNU as a beneficiary on an IRA or life insurance policy or setting up a charitable gift annuity that can even provide income for life while offering tax benefits. These gifts help secure the future of NNU’s mission and can be tailored to fit your personal goals and circumstances. To get involved, explore the gift options at NNULEGACYGIFTS.ORG, work with advisors to include NNU in your estate or contact Bryon Knight, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, at BKNIGHT@NNU.EDU, for more information and support in planning a legacy gift.
NNU BREAKS GROUND ON ROB ROBERTS TRAINING FACILITY
Northwest Nazarene University is excited to announce the groundbreaking of the Rob Roberts Training Facility, a major new addition to campus that will enhance the student-athlete and student life experience.
The new 22,000-square-foot facility will provide additional indoor practice space for NNU’s baseball, softball and golf programs, while also opening up the JSC Fieldhouse for broader campus use. This increase in space will benefit all students, creating more opportunities for recreation and wellness, part of NNU’s commitment to transforming the whole student through a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The building will include one of the top collegiate golf training centers in the Northwest and will be the largest facility of its kind in Idaho.
“This project is about more than athletics,” said Paul Rush, NNU Director of Athletics. “The Rob Roberts Training Facility will expand our ability to serve student-athletes with excellence while simultaneously creating new opportunities for student life, recreation and wellness. It’s a transformational space that will elevate the NNU experience for everyone.”
The facility is named in honor of Rob Roberts, owner of R&M Steel, who generously donated the steel for the project. All are welcome to join us as we celebrate this exciting milestone.
NNU NAMED 202526 COLLEGE OF DISTINCTION
NNU has been recognized as a College of Distinction for 2025–2026, earning national honors in: Idaho, Christian, Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing and Career Development. These distinctions affirm NNU’s deep commitment to academic excellence, mentorship and real-world student outcomes.
NNU graduates exceed national averages in median earnings six years after graduation and alumni can be found in high-demand fields across the globe, working for organizations like Boeing, Pixar, Adobe, NASA, Micron and major school districts and hospitals throughout the Northwest.
Each of the College of Distinction academic program honors reflects NNU’s continued excellence in fields that directly impact communities and industries:
• Business: NNU ranks in the top 10% nationally on ETS business exams
• Education: One of only 79 programs nationwide—and the only in Idaho—to earn an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality for math teacher preparation
• Engineering: Students gain early, hands-on experience through labbased courses and internships
• Nursing: The program is known for clinical excellence, high NCLEX pass rates and a reputation for compassionate, whole-person care
Earning recognition across so many categories highlights the depth of NNU’s commitment to students and the outcomes that follow.
NNU INTRODUCES NEW FACULTY FOR THE 25/26 ACADEMIC YEAR
NNU welcomes:
Alison Graham Larson
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Adam Petersen
Assistant Professor of History
Rebekah Ponsford-Hall
Associate Professor of Psychology
Roxanne Printz
Program Director of Social Work
JJ Bowerman
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Phyllis Morris
Associate Professor of Nursing
Samantha Phillips
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Bryana Smith
Program Director of FNP and
Associate Professor of Nursing
NNU is excited to welcome each of these individuals as they join a committed group of faculty and staff members.
NNU ENGINEERING STUDENTS LAUNCH EXPERIMENT WITH NASA
Northwest Nazarene University engineering students are reaching new heights—literally.
As part of NASA’s RockSat-X program, a team of NNU students recently launched their original experiment aboard a sounding rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, joining an elite group of university teams from across the nation.
The NNU payload featured an ejector and robotic arm designed to track and capture objects in space. The experiment, developed over months of design, testing and assembly, provided students with the rare opportunity to apply classroom learning to a real-world aerospace challenge in partnership with NASA engineers.
Through RockSat-X, students were involved in every stage of the mission: designing the experiment, preparing it for spaceflight, integrating it into the rocket and analyzing post-flight data. The launch reached an altitude of approximately 90 miles, providing valuable microgravity time for testing the payload.
“This is exactly the kind of experience that prepares our graduates to innovate in their careers from day one,” Lawrence added.
“It’s also a reminder that big ideas can come from a small university in Idaho—and make an impact on a national stage.”
The RockSat-X program is a collaboration between NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and universities across the nation, designed to give students a comprehensive, hands-on spaceflight experience.
NNU CELEBRATES THE INNAUGURATION OF DR. MARK
DEMICHAEL AS ITS 14TH PRESIDENT
NNU celebrated the inauguration of Dr. Mark DeMichael as its 14th president on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Centered around the theme, “Humble in Heart, Bold in Mission,” the ceremony marked the formal beginning of his presidency.
With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Dr. DeMichael brings a deep commitment to faith-centered leadership and student transformation. Before coming to NNU, he served as Vice President of Student Development and Athletics at Indiana Wesleyan University, where he oversaw student life, retention and athletic programs. He previously taught and coached baseball at Eastern Nazarene College, his alma mater. Dr. DeMichael holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands, an M.Ed. in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University and a BS in Physical Education from Eastern Nazarene College.
Known for his relational and authentic leadership, Dr. DeMichael has consistently emphasized humility, collaboration and a bold commitment to NNU’s mission of transforming lives through Christ-centered education.
Under Dr. DeMichael’s leadership, NNU aims to strengthen its commitment to Christ-centered education, deepen partnerships with churches & communities and continue expanding opportunities for academic and spiritual growth.
ENDOWMENT GRANTS
NNU has been awarded two grants totaling $11.25 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to strengthen the preparation, formation and support of future pastors through expanded collaboration, theological education and ministry-based training. The awards include a nearly $10 million Nazarene Collaboration Grant that brings together Northwest Nazarene Divinity School, Nazarene Theological Seminary and six sister Nazarene universities across the United States, as well as a second $1.25 million grant that will expand and enhance NNU’s two-year ministry residency program.
The Nazarene Collaboration Grant creates a new framework for shared theological education among participating institutions, including MidAmerica Nazarene University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Olivet Nazarene University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Southern Nazarene University and Trevecca Nazarene University.
In addition to the collaborative grant, NNU received a $1.25 million Lilly Endowment grant in partnership with Grand Canyon University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Made to Flourish and other institutions. For NNU, this funding will support the growth and enhancement of its two-year ministry residency program, which places graduate theology students in strategic local churches for immersive ministry experience, mentoring and leadership development.
LEADING AFTER THE LAST OUT
BY CRAIG CRAKER
Joe Schaefer had a choice.
Sit in the dugout being bitter for losing a game his team seemed destined to win.
Or he could do what he has always done as a head coach—be there for his players no matter the outcome of the game.
He chose the latter, rushing out to the field to comfort pitcher Jonathan Zayas, who had thrown the ball away, allowing the winning run to score.
“Some of those guys didn’t just lose that game, but it was the last game they would ever play,” said Schaefer, NNU head baseball coach. “I was just trying to love on them and let them know that their whole career or season doesn’t come down to one moment. Yes, the pain is going to last, but look back on the accomplishment of making it that far.”
The Nighthawks were two outs away from reaching the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship series, only to have it wrenched away in the bottom of the ninth inning.
“In the moment, he just told me, ‘Thank you for being you,’” Zayas said. “He was just hugging me and telling me how proud
he was of me and that this doesn’t change anything that we accomplished.”
NNU had just put together the greatest season for a team in the school’s 24-year NCAA history.
The Nighthawks won the GNAC regularseason title, the GNAC tournament title, the NCAA West Region title and won two games at the Division II College World Series. Their 46 wins shattered the program record of 36 and also set a conference record. Schaefer was named the 2025 ABCA West Region Coach of the Year, while Ernesto Lugo-Canchola and Cole Calnon earned consensus AllAmerica honors.
There was a lot to be proud of in that moment, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow.
“In maybe your greatest moment of disappointment as a coach, instead of thinking about that or being frustrated or mad, he was out there giving that pitcher a hug,” NNU athletic director Paul Rush said. “He handled that moment the way we all as coaches would like to—picking a
kid up, instead of focusing on what could have been.”
For Schaefer, that calming influence on his team and those around him was developed as a young coach at Point Loma Nazarene University.
As a player and then an assistant coach at PLNU, he was fiery and wore his emotions on his sleeve, sometimes throwing stuff or yelling when a game didn’t go his way.
When he was promoted in 2009 to head coach at his alma mater, then athletic director and hall of fame coach Caroll Land pulled him aside and said Schaefer needed to work on being more even-keeled and less emotional.
“It allows your players to be more relaxed and take on a similar personality,”
Schaefer said of his style of leadership.
“I still remember that conversation with Coach Land vividly and it changed how I approached coaching ever since.”
Schaefer graduated from NNU’s sister school in 2003 with a degree in theology and philosophy. He had no real plans in his life at that point and was working at Home Depot the summer after he graduated.
COACH JOE SHAEFER
At church, he ran into his old coach, who asked if he was interested in helping with the team.
"I understand wholeheartedly how meaningful relationshipbuilding is; not just in coaching, but in life...
Schaefer volunteered in 2004, joined the staff as a paid assistant in 2005 and was named the head coach in 2009.
“I had no intention of going this route,” said Schaefer, who became a head coach at just 27 years old. “God opened the door and said this is what you are supposed to do.”
After 10 successful seasons in San Diego, he and his wife, Cheryl, felt like God was calling them to go elsewhere. Eventually, the NNU job opened, and he applied and got it, moving North with his three sons and wife in 2019.
It was a big shift for a guy who had lived in Southern California his whole life.
“Everyone in the baseball community thought I was an idiot, but everyone close to us thought it was 100 percent the right move,” Schaefer said of leaving San Diego for Nampa. “I think we were here about six months and my wife and I looked at each
other and said, ‘Gosh, we should have done this 10 years ago.’”
Since Schaefer arrived in 2019, the baseball program has reached heights that were previously unimaginable at Elmore W. Vail Field.
The Nighthawks had one previous conference tournament title in 2016 under their belts before he arrived, but everything quickly changed thanks to Schaefer and assistant coach Matt Hollod.
The two immediately showed off their recruiting prowess, convincing players from all over the country to come to Nampa. It quickly led to great success, as the team reached the NCAA West Regionals in three of four years, including reaching the World Series in 2021.
“There are coaches who control everything in their programs—and they can be successful—but Joe is a guy who gives freedom to his players,” Hollod said. “He
wants them to make their own decisions lots of times and he is willing to let them make mistakes and learn from them.”
That type of leadership has paid off for the Nighthawks, who have had different players step up into leadership positions throughout his tenure.
“He does a good job of staying consistent and being honest,” Hollod said. “His style works for him because he is so consistent and a man of integrity. Players appreciate honesty more than someone blowing smoke.”
That is something that drew Kyle Ethridge to the program both as a player and now as an assistant coach.
“He is a very calm guy who doesn’t let situations speed up on him,” the 2024 graduate said. “Everything has a purpose, whether it is in practice or a game, or a decision on what to do with a runner or whatever. He is good about not getting caught up in the moment.”
Being a leader doesn’t come easily to Schaefer, who is a bit of an introvert.
“It’s not a strength of mine and it doesn’t come easy,” he said, “but I understand wholeheartedly how meaningful relationship building is; not just in coaching, but in life. Being a Christian, I want to have an impact in the lives of these guys.
“It is something I try to be better at every single day.”
That relationship-building has impressed his fellow coaches and his current athletic director.
Rush, a former basketball head coach at the high school and collegiate level, described Schaefer’s approach as the perfect answer to the age-old question in college athletics that asks if coaches actually care about the players as humans or if they only see the players as a way to win games.
“When you lose, you have a chance to show kids that the result doesn’t change how you feel about them or who they are,” Rush said. “I think that is what Schaef did in that moment. He got a chance to really show the athletes that this relationship is about supporting and loving them as a
person and if they help you win games, that is great, but if you lose games, I still love and care about you.”
So, when Schaefer was facing a devastating professional moment, he took a bit of time to sit on the bench trying to figure out what had just happened.
Fellow coaches were shell-shocked. Players were wandering around crying. Fans were stunned. The opposing team was celebrating wildly.
And yet Schaefer calmly strolled to the first base foul line and met his pitcher and told him some simple words.
“Someone needed to talk to the guys after that—and he was crushed,” Hollod said.
“But he talked to the team and he did it in a real honorable way. He handled that loss as well as anyone could. It was crushing.”
Schaefer has relived that day many times in the last six months, as has nearly everyone involved in the game.
“That was one of the hardest games I’ve ever had to go through,” he said. “I spent
weeks and months not understanding why it had to go the way it went. Losing is one thing, but losing in the fashion we lost was gut-wrenching. I would have rather just gotten blown out.”
Reaching the College World Series at any level is a daunting task and rarely happens consistently. Schaefer reached the pinnacle at the NAIA level in 2009 and ‘10 with Point Loma, losing the national title in 2009. It was 11 years before he made it back to the championship round with NNU.
All of that isn’t lost on Schaefer, and that is what he has tried to get across to his teams over the years.
“I don’t know if I have learned a lesson from it just yet,” he said. “God will have to show me something down the road and then I will understand why it happened.
“For now, we’ve turned the page and moved on, and our goal is to get the players back there to have an opportunity to win the game.”
2025 NIGHTHAWKS FALL HIGHLIGHTS
WOMEN’S SOCCER
In new head coach Jenny Jaggard’s first season at the helm, NNU went 5-11-2 overall and 4-8-2 in GNAC play to finish fifth in the conference standings. Three players earned All-GNAC honors, with Savanna Herz on the Second Team and Alex Barrass and Grace Fisher both named Honorable Mention.
MEN’S SOCCER
During the 2025 season, NNU went 7-7-4 overall and 3-5-2 in GNAC play to finish fifth in the conference standings. Seven players earned All-GNAC recognition, led by Derek Johnson on the First Team and the Newcomer of the Year and Rylan McPherson on the Second Team. Johnson and McPherson both also earned Second Team All-Region honors.
VOLLEYBALL
The Nighthawks finished the 2025 season 6-19 overall and 5-13 in conference play. Abby Black was named to the All-GNAC First Team, and Hailey Cheney earned Honorable Mention honors.
CROSS COUNTRY
The Nighthawks men enjoyed the best season in its 24-year Division II history, qualifying for the DII National Championships for the first time as a team. NNU placed third at the GNAC Championships and fifth at the West Regional, with Grady Mylander placing third individually at the regional. Mylander, Brody Kemble and Ian Stockett all earned All-Region honors from the USFTCCCA. On the women’s side, NNU placed sixth at GNACs and 14th at regionals, led by an All-Region performance from Morgan Erler.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
As of Dec. 3, the Nighthawks are off to a 5-1 record and 4-0 start at home in the Johnson Sports Center. A big highlight of the fall portion of the schedule was a dominant 91-74 victory over rival College of Idaho in the home edition of the United Heritage Mayors’ Cup on Nov. 18. Before the season, NNU was selected second in the GNAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, with Briggs Ranstrom earning Preseason All-Conference recognition. Through three weeks of the season, Easton Reagan has earned two of the GNAC Player of the Week awards thus far.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
As of Dec. 3, the Nighthawks are 4-2 overall. The women were selected fifth in the GNAC Preseason Poll, with Kendall Clark and Chloe Deharo each named Preseason All-Conference.
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Photographs in sequence from top center
SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND NNU, POSTED BY DEPARTMENTS, TEAMS AND STUDENT GROUPS ACROSS CAMPUS.
Photo by: Katie Rybicki, Class of '28
BLACK TIE AT CHATEAU DE FLEURS
BRENT PETERSON
NAME: BRENT PETERSON
PROFESSION: DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
HOMETOWN: SEATTLE, WA
CAROLINA SCHNEIDER
NAME: CAROLINA SCHNEIDER
PROFESSION: STUDENT SERVICES COORDINATOR
HOMETOWN:
Fun Fact About You: I have the best office on campus (don't tell anyone) and in this same office I contracted chicken pox as an NNU student from a faculty member's grandson.
Favorite NNU Memory So Far: It is all about the relationships. I loved playing intramurals with my friends, Club Volleyball, Braschworld, Senate and Crusader Choir. I loved hanging out with my professors outside the classroom. I loved the ministry relationships that began in college that continue to provide joy. I loved being "security" at the NAIA National Basketball Tournament. I am so thankful for the depth of love and support from this community that shaped my life and calling.
Favorite Thing About NNU: There is a special blessing around the NNU community. Words can't describe the joy and thankfulness from my time on this campus as a student to now being a professor who has the honor to partner, equip and encourage the next generation of students. Faculty, staff and fellow students poured into me with love, grace, hope and joy. I was forever blessed and formed by God through the community of NNU. NNU continues to be a place of life transformation. This transformation is not just for an individual to pursue selfish ends but truly helped to shape me to be a creative and redemptive agent in the world. I have the honor of doing that exactly at a place that was so significant for me.
NNU students frequently express that we do college different. How do you believe NNU does college different? NNU embodies strong academic rigor and demands a great deal from its students. The "different" is that we don't settle for dispensing degrees, but seek to foster an environment for holistic transformation. While we want our students to engage the world to bless and innovate, the goal for an NNU graduate is not simply to get a degree to earn money to build an individual kingdom of things that will rust and decay. The true calling is to see that the education and formation that is occurring is to help make you a creative and redemptive agent in the world. There can be no higher purpose. To see one's life, work and calling participating in the new creation kingdom that is coming more every day. The formation is not to control or coerce but to serve and have compassion. The goal is not to win by exploiting or beating others down, but by empowering and encouraging all to find hope. That is our desire for each student. That is doing college different.
Favorite NNU Memory So Far: Some of the students that lived in Corlett at the time asked me if I would bake a dessert for a bake-off for snack night. There were so many delicious desserts! It was a great night of fun, treats and games. What a privilege to spend time with such incredible students!
How has your experience at NNU shaped your faith, guided your calling, and influenced the way you serve or connect with others? When I first started working at NNU, it was such an eyeopening experience—in the best possible way. From day one, everyone I met was so friendly and welcoming!
I had always desired to work in a place that shared my Christian beliefs, but I truly had no idea just how wonderful it would be. Of course, no place is perfect, but NNU has been an incredible place to work.
I’ve always felt my calling is to be an encourager of people, and in my role as Student Services Coordinator on the Student Life team, I have the privilege of fulfilling my calling in getting to know and sow into the students that I get to meet. Being available to them by listening, praying with them and being invited into some of the special moments that matter in their lives is my favorite part of every day. NNU creates an atmosphere where we have the freedom to pour into our students’ lives and build meaningful connections—and that’s something I treasure.
NNU students frequently express that we do college different. How do you believe NNU does college different? I know many have already shared similar thoughts, but it’s worth saying again: NNU truly feels like a community. We care deeply about our students—their growth, their transformation and their learning journey. It may sound like a cliché, but here, every student matters. They’re never just a number; they’re valued individuals who become part of our family, and we’re committed to walking alongside them every step of the way. It is one of the many reasons I love working here.
JUTIAPA, GUATEMALA
Fun Fact About You: I love roller skating!
GRADUATE
DELANIE WILLIAMSON
NAME: DELANIE WILLIAMSON
MAJOR: ED.S. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
GRAD YEAR: 2027
HOMETOWN: MURTAUGH, IDAHO
Fun Fact About You: I have spent 92% of my teaching career in the same school and position. Dedicating so much of my time to one community has helped me develop relationships that will last a lifetime. It has become a home away from home for myself and my family.
Favorite NNU Memory So Far: Meeting with Robin Gilbert to discuss my principal internship. Robin has more real-life experiences in the field of education than my previous college professors. She shares these experiences as a way to help her students grow and learn. When talking with Robin, it feels like I am speaking with a colleague. In the graduate program, I feel like we have all been treated like professionals.
Favorite Thing About NNU: I appreciate having professors that are or have been in my position as an educator or leader. In my past experiences most of my professors went straight to being college professors following graduate school. Thus far, all my professors at NNU have been able to share very valuable real-life experiences. I also love that NNU is a small community! I have had many of the same people enrolled in most of my courses.
How has your experience at NNU shaped your faith, guided your calling, and influenced the way you serve or connect with others? My experience at NNU has given me the faith to pursue a leadership career and has guided me towards that. Beginning my program, I thought maybe I would be a consulting teacher or coach someday; but now I feel a strong pull toward building administration. I have been provided with opportunities that have given me the faith in myself to pursue something I previously wouldn't have considered. It has given me the confidence to take on more leadership roles and embrace the more challenging aspects of being a leader.
NNU students frequently express that we do college different. How do you believe NNU does college different? Northwest Nazarene University focuses on the concepts we need to know and how to apply them. Graduate school this go-around feels less like a check list and more like a learning experience.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
QUINCY ELLIS
NAME: QUINCY ELLIS
MAJOR/MINOR: NURSING
FUTURE PLANS: CURRENTLY, MY FUTURE PLANS ARE TO GRADUATE AND BEGIN MY CAREER AS A NURSE, AS WELL AS CONTINUE MY EDUCATION IN THE FNP PROGRAM HERE AT NNU.
GRAD YEAR: 2025
HOMETOWN: BOISE, IDAHO
Fun Fact About You: I lived overseas for 4 years. I lived in Switzerland for two years and the Netherlands for two years.
Favorite NNU Memory So Far: The Silent Disco! An event where everyone has headphones listening to different music and everyone's dancing. I think the coolest part about it is if you ever take your headphones off, it's completely silent, but everyone’s still dancing and having a great time; it’s just a surreal experience.
Favorite Thing About NNU: My favorite thing about NNU is the culture and community that the staff and students have worked together to create. I believe that it is truly unique to NNU and has been cultivated by the caring and godly people here.
Something Valuable You Learned at NNU: While the goal is important, it's also important to slow down and enjoy the journey.
How has your experience at NNU shaped your faith, guided your calling, and influenced the way you serve or connect with others? I came to NNU unsure of what I wanted to do, and through countless conversations with peers, mentors and faculty, NNU helped me find my way to nursing and the desire to help people. This helped shape my faith through faith-based learning, as I can see what it means to help someone as a whole person and not just as a patient or through an academic lens.
NNU students frequently express that we do college different. How do you believe NNU does college different? Through the care and compassion the teachers and staff show to the students. You go to NNU, you truly feel as though everybody wants you to succeed and will do anything to help you achieve your goals. At NNU, you feel seen as a person and not just another student that's in a massive lecture hall. At NNU, you will have a personal connection with all of your professors, all of whom take a genuine interest in your learning.
