The University is seeking an experienced, mission-oriented, and relational leader who will advance Warner Pacificā€™s Christ-centered identity while strengthening academic excellence and institutional vitality. The ideal candidate will embody a deep Christian faith and bring both visionary leadership and practical experience in higher education.

The search will be led by a Presidential Search Committee chaired by Dr. Jay Barber, President Emeritus of Ķęż½ć½ć. The committee will engage members of the university community throughout the process, ensuring thoughtful input from key stakeholders across campus.

To assist with the search, Warner Pacific has partnered with FaithSearch Partners, a nationally recognized executive search firm with extensive experience placing senior leaders within Christian higher education. FaithSearch Partners will support the committee in identifying, evaluating, and recruiting candidates who align with the Universityā€™s mission and leadership priorities.

The search process began earlier this year with the engagement of FaithSearch Partners and the formation of the search committee. Initial stakeholder input helped inform the development of the presidential candidate profile. Candidate sourcing and screening are currently underway, with semi-finalist interviews anticipated in April. Finalist candidates are expected to participate in campus interviews later in the spring, with the goal of engaging a final candidate by May.

Ķęż½ć½ć remains committed to a thoughtful and prayerful process as it seeks the next leader who will guide the institution in fulfilling its mission of preparing students to engage actively in a constantly changing world. All members of the Warner Pacific campus community are invited to join in prayer for Godā€™s clear and decisive direction throughout this search process.

Individuals interested in learning more about the opportunity or nominating a candidate are encouraged to contact FaithSearch Partners. All inquiries and nominations will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

Additional information about the presidential search, including updates and details about the process, can be found on the Presidential Search page of the Ķęż½ć½ć website.

The 48-credit undergraduate major provides a clear and practical pathway for students preparing for pastoral ministry, church leadership, and Christian service. The degree was developed during the 2025ā€“2026 academic year by an advisory group of Church of God pastors, former pastors, Christian ministry scholars, and university academic leaders in response to the growing need for well-equipped pastors throughout the Northwest region and beyond. The program has been approved for offering by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

ā€œThe Church needs leaders who are deeply rooted in Scripture and prepared for the realities of ministry today,ā€ said Interim President Douglas Wade. ā€œThis degree reflects Warner Pacificā€™s historic commitment to forming pastors who love God, understand His Word, and shepherd His people with wisdom, conviction, and compassion.ā€

Warner Pacific was founded in 1937 in Spokane, Washington, as Pacific Bible College and was established by the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) to provide Christian education grounded in the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition. The new Pastoral Studies degree builds upon that legacy while equipping students to serve contemporary congregations and communities with theological depth and practical leadership skills.

Students who choose to major in Pastoral Studies will engage in theological study, spiritual formation, and leadership development through a curriculum intentionally designed for real-world pastoral demands. Areas of emphasis include preaching, discipleship, evangelism, pastoral care, church administration, and mission-shaped leadership in diverse contexts.

Coursework includes:

• Biblical Studies
• Hermeneutics
• Pastoral Ethics
• Church Administration
• Evangelism and Missional Leadership
• Preaching
• Church of God History
• Sustaining a Whole Life in Ministry

Students are required to complete at least one supervised local ministry internship, providing hands-on experience in pastoral leadership and congregational life. In addition, students benefit from numerous church and ministry partnerships within the WPU network committed to supporting the formation of church leaders.

Collaborative relationships include organizations such as Mid-America Christian University (MACU), the Leadership Focus program, and other associations, movements, denominations, and local churches. These partnerships expand opportunities for ministry experience and may support students pursuing Church of God ministerial credentialing pathways.

Program Outcomes

Program outcomes reflect both theological depth and pastoral practice. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies will be equipped to:

• Interpret Scripture using hermeneutics
• Integrate theological reflection with pastoral practice
• Demonstration spiritual and emotional maturity in leadership
• Communicate effectively through preaching and teaching across ministry contexts
• Lead evangelism and mission work with cultural intelligence
• Sustain a holistic life of ministry through ongoing spiritual formation and healthy balance

Students move through a structured major that includes core Pastoral Studies coursework and a Pastoral Leadership Emphasis, preparing leaders for ministry that is both faithful to the gospel and attentive to the needs of contemporary communities.

Incoming first-year students may complete the degree in four years through primarily in-person coursework supplemented by select online offerings. The program also includes an accelerated ministry pathway through the Church of God for students who choose to pursue credentialing, including participation in the Leadership Focus program, which supports completion of ministerial credential requirements.

The Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies represents Ķęż½ć½ćā€™s continued commitment to forming Christ-centered leaders equipped to serve the Church and the world with theological depth, spiritual maturity, and practical wisdom.

About Ķęż½ć½ć

Ķęż½ć½ć is a Christ-centered, urban, liberal arts university in the heart of Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1937, the University is dedicated to preparing students from diverse backgrounds to engage actively in a constantly changing world. As a federally designated Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), Ķęż½ć½ć is committed to educational equity, with nearly half of its students being first-generation college students.

A Trusted Leader with a Heart for Mission

Doug has brought steady and mission-driven leadership rooted in Christ to the university throughout this transition. His deep understanding of Warner Pacific, his integrity, and his longstanding commitment to serve God, our students, and the community have positioned him to lead with clarity and purpose. Doug has served the university for more than eight years, currently as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, a role he will continue to hold while serving as Interim President. He brings over two decades of higher education leadership experience to this expanded responsibility.

Guided by Faith and Supported by Legacy

During this season of Christ-centered leadership and institutional renewal, Doug is supported by President Emeritus Jay Barber, who has been serving as a trusted advisor and consultant, offering continuity and wisdom throughout the transition.

The University also expresses deep gratitude to Dr. Brian Johnson, who served as Warner Pacificā€™s President for the past five years. His contributions to the mission and growth of the institution have been meaningful and appreciated. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Rooted in Purpose, Focused on the Future

As Interim President, Doug will focus on advancing the initiatives outlined in Warner Pacificā€™s Strategic Plan, strengthening academic excellence, enhancing the student experience, and deepening the Universityā€™s commitment to equity, service, and Christ-centered learning.

Doug will serve in this role for up to one year as the Board of Trustees considers the timing and process for a presidential search. Further updates will be shared as the process develops.

Warner Pacific remains grounded in Godā€™s plan and committed to its mission as a Christ-centered university ā€” urban, diverse, and devoted to preparing students for lives of purpose and service.

¹ó“Ē°łĢżWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17^TH:Ģż On-ground activities and instruction moved to remote where possible.

Due to ongoing icy conditions and predicted freezing rain, Ķęż½ć½ć will suspend in-person instruction on Wednesday, January 17 and move to online instruction. In addition, all non-campus-essential employees should work remotely. Student and staff should check in with instructors and supervisors for any questions or concerns.

Please visit WPUā€™s inclement weather policiesĢżhereĢżfor more information. This message is also being shared via Omni Flash Alert, the WPU website, social media, and local news media.

Stay safe and warm Knights!

President Johnson was chosen because of three distinctives that characterize his time of pioneering leadership at WPU:

First, the award honors his leadership of WPUā€™s unique role as both a Christ-centered university, and as a federally designated Minority Serving Institution ā€“ a particular missional combination that represents less than 1% of private universities in the U.S. The institution is nearing a 100-year affiliation with the Church of God — Anderson, Indiana, and welcomes students of all backgrounds to pursue academic majors and personal callings. With enrollment comprised of more than 65% people of color, the university is the only university in Oregon to have earned both ā€œHispanic Servingā€ and ā€œAsian American Native American Pacific Islander Servingā€ designations by the U.S. Department of Education.

Second, Dr. Johnson was recognized for his efforts to regain strategic footing for the university after it suffered enrollment and resource losses exacerbated by the pandemic. When Dr. Johnson began his tenure at WPU, the university was at risk of falling out of compliance with its accrediting body. Dr. Johnson successfully brought the university back into compliance through a new enrollment management plan and earned the university its first (and Oregonā€™s only) Title V federal grant in the amount of $3Million to strengthen student services.

Finally, the CIC acknowledged Dr. Johnsonā€™s personal journey as exemplary of a pioneer: as the first African American president in WPUā€™s history, Dr. Johnsonā€™s personal lived experience includes overcoming the odds to become a first-generation student-turned-academic-scholar, and the first Andrew W. Mellon post-doctoral fellow to become an HBCU president (Dr. Johnson was formally president of Tuskegee University in Alabama).

ā€œIā€™m so humbled and honored to receive this recognition,ā€ said Dr. Johnson. ā€œThough the word ā€˜pioneerā€™ evokes a lone forerunner, the truth is that affecting change requires gathering together the belief and hard-working hands of many. Iā€™m so delighted to do what I can to share my personal experiences as a president, and as a scholar, so that future change-makers may have a better map for gathering support and cresting their mountains.ā€

WPU Board Chair Mike Moreland will join President Johnson at the summit this summer. Together they will participate in identifying and codifying practices that will serve as a framework for nurturing community and success for futureĢżpioneeringĢżpresidents. Their findings will be shared broadly with the higher education community.

Catalyzing its Christ-centered, missional commitment to bring educational opportunity to diverse student populations, Ķęż½ć½ć (WPU) is pleased to announce it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to receive a landmark, five-year, $3 million grant under the Title V

ā€œAs a Christian university this recognition affirms our core calling ā€“ to put our faith into action by ensuring academic opportunity is available to a diverse range of students and to empower those students to care for our world,ā€ said WPU President Dr. Brian Johnson. ā€œAs we approach our 90th anniversary, we are proud of our Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving designations ā€“ and we are grateful this grant will allow us to grow in our ability to serve those who traditionally have been shut out from the credentials necessary to truly live out their calling.ā€

With 61% of WPUā€™s undergraduates identifying as students of color, and 32% who identify as Hispanic, WPU is just one of six institutions in the state ā€“ and the only university in Oregon ā€“ to be federally designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, a distinction it has held since 2018. The grant, entitled ā€œProject Avanzamos: Advancing Ķęż½ć½ć from Hispanic-Enrolling to Hispanic-Servingā€, furthers the universityā€™s plans to improve student support, academic options, graduation rates and professional outcomes.

ā€œThough we enroll a large number of Hispanic students, and are recognized as the most diverse university in Oregon in general, enrollment is not enough,ā€ said Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success Dr. Darilis Garcia. ā€œā€™Servingā€™ is about intentionality ā€“ it means understanding our studentsā€™ needs and strengths, and adapting our instruction and environment to ensure we create pathways to full success. And by working to better serve this large population, in reality, we will better serve other students as well.ā€

Project Avanzamos includes three primary goals:

• To strengthen academic programs. Over the next five years, the grant will support a campus-wide initiative that integrates career considerations and experiential learning into the WPU academic experience. Outcomes will include new approaches to curriculum that embed career-thinking and application throughout a major, and developing a new Spanish translation certificate program that will help students graduate with a credential that makes them even more marketable.
• To improve student support. WPU is focused on what happens outside of the classroom to support students as well. The grant improves ways to honor cultural wealth and foster a sense of belonging through an eco-system of ā€œwrap-aroundā€ support. In particular, staff will work to create a new community-wide mentorship and coaching initiative connecting Hispanic students with peers, faculty, and community leaders that supports students while they are in school.
• To support institutional infrastructure and outcomes. The grant will also help WPU institute new, evidence-based advising that increases student outcomes, closes equity gaps and stabilizes tuition revenue. Particularly exciting is a plan to create a new Center for Academic Success and Achievement (or ā€œCASAā€) ā€“ a physical space on campus with designated staff to welcome students and lead programming that supports professional development for students and staff alike.

In addition to its federal Hispanic-Serving designation, earlier this year WPU qualified for the AANAPISI (Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution) as well. The news follows a trajectory of student enrollment that includes increasing numbers of Black / African American students, and a growing percentage of students who speak languages other than English. Today, WPU is the only Christian university in the Pacific Northwest, and just one of several dozen in the country, to be recognized as ā€œMinority Servingā€ by the U.S. Department of Education.

ā€œWPU is filling an important need,ā€ said President Johnson, who is the universityā€™s first African American president. ā€œThough we began as a Bible college almost a century ago, and have a beautiful history of having led thousands of devoted men and women to serve their communities, today we are extending that gift of calling to so many who have traditionally been denied the same chance to learn in a community that emphasizes values of empathy and service, faith and love, as much as practical competency skills. The fact is we need diverse leaders of competence and character. This grant affirms our intention to empower people of color to access a quality, faith-based, inclusive education and to step out into the world prepared to live purpose-driven lives.ā€

In addition to improving services to students, the grant further supports a university that is seeking to turn around an enrollment decline post-pandemic, and rebuild its connections to community in general. Earlier this year, WPU successful overcame an accreditation warning issued several years prior and received commendation by its accrediting body, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), for having taken strong steps to redirect its institutional master plan.

ā€œLike so many small, private universities, we have had to pivot post-COVID, while staying true to a mission that is about helping students become whom they were meant to become,ā€ said Senior Vice President of University Relations Jennifer Boehmer. ā€œThe good news is, our civic and sacred communities are united in a vision that requires us to work together to advance, train, and cultivate more leadership opportunities for historically underrepresented and underserved communities. Itā€™s about equity, but also, put in Biblical terms, we view this work as truly reflecting the full Kingdom of God.ā€

The vast majority (80%) of WPUā€™s traditional undergraduate students commute to campus. Many live with their families and desire to remain in the Portland area after they graduate. As the least expensive private university in Oregon, 98% of WPU students rely on financial aid to attend college and more than 42% speak languages other than English. Navigating these challenges contributed to U.S. News and World Report naming WPU a ā€œTop Performerā€ in Social Mobility for 2023.

ā€œIā€™m thrilled that this grant really creates opportunities for all of our students,ā€ said President Johnson. ā€œOur intention is to not only meet our students where they are at, but to walk alongside them as they work to achieve their dreams. By recognizing the work we need to do to better serve our Hispanic students, we create an infrastructure that catalyzes all students to overcome cycles of poverty for themselves, and create generational opportunities that fulfill vocational calling as well as earn credentials. I am tremendously proud of the hard work that has led to this moment. We stand on the shoulders of staff, faculty, alums, and friends who have prayerfully empowered us to serve our world in this way today.ā€

See press coverage of WPU’s historic accomplishment:

• Story in the Oregonian and
• Commendation from the
• Featured by the national

ā€œAs a Christ-centered university, we couldnā€™t be prouder to serve a diverse student body,ā€ said WPU President Dr. Brian Johnson. ā€œTo us, it is exactly in keeping with the Biblical mission we have to equip every single student who comes to us with the ability to lead purpose-driven lives. And while we never reduce students to a box to be checked, we are honored to be a place diverse students are choosing, and to lift up families who have historically been shut out of ample access to great higher education.ā€

Having AANAPISI designation not only acknowledges the large, diverse population of Asian American and Pacific Islander students who attend and graduate from Warner Pacific, but allows WPU to apply for outside funding that will aim to expand and improve the overall quality of experience for Asian American and Pacific Islander undergraduate, first generation, and low-income students. AANAPISI designation, together with WPUā€™s Hispanic Serving Institution status further positions WPU to be recognized as the premier MSI in Oregon. Such recognition also provides new opportunities for WPU students and to help recruit incoming students from the state of Oregon and beyond.

Student Juwlyzae (ā€œJuJuā€) Williams serves as WPUā€™s Student Body President and identifies as Asian American. She grew up in Oahu, Hawaii with a very close-knit family. She says WPU feels like an extension of her home culture. ā€œComing in as a transfer student from a non-Christian school and having people that not only relate to my faith but also my culture really makes me feel like I belong,ā€ she said. ā€œThese two factors working together helped me have the support and confidence to get involved in things like student leadership, serving on the ministry team as Student Chaplain, playing on the Womenā€™s Volleyball Team, and participating in our AAPI Club. Here, I am bringing the fullest version of myself so I can become the fullest version of myself.ā€

To obtain the AANAPISI designation, an institution must have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and meet other requirements based on Pell Grant-eligible students and have what the U.S. Department of Education considers low educational costs. Native American Pacific Islanders are defined as descendants of the Aboriginal people of American islands in the Pacific Ocean (Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands). Based on Spring 2022 enrollment, AAPI students made up 12.3 percent of WPUā€™s campus enrollment.

An education leader with 23 yearsā€™ experience at the secondary, post-secondary, and graduate levels of education, Dr. Edwards will serve as the senior administrator for student retention efforts for the University. Specifically, this means leading the development and expansion of student services and programming in service to a deeply held vision that every single student enrolled at WPU should persist strongly through their college journeys, and graduate successfully as an empowered, faith-informed leader.

ā€œI am delighted to welcome Sabrina to our leadership team,ā€ said WPU President Brian Johnson. ā€œHer excellent track record of experience ā€“ particularly in creating new resources to develop institutions focused on diverse populations ā€“ along with her deep and evident heart for supporting communities of faith and purpose, make her the ideal fit for Warner.ā€

Dr. Edwards says she is excited to be joining WPUā€™s Christ-centered mission of educational attainment for all.

ā€œI believe itā€™s imperative to lead, inspire and make a difference in the lives of everyone,ā€ said Dr. Edwards. ā€œĶęż½ć½ć will allow me the opportunity to provide an exceptional student experience and outstanding customer service to all scholars who choose to join us.ā€

Dr. Edwards comes to WPU as director of the Iā€™m A Star Foundation, a ā€œGear Upā€ federally funded program focused on providing post-secondary guided pathways support to students and families. Previously she served served at Florida Agricultural Mechanical University as Dean of Undecided Major and Transient Students, and Director for Academic Advising and Undergraduate Student Success. Dr. Edwards also served at Florida State College at Jacksonville and at Edward Waters College overseeing development of Federal TRIO Programs and Training Opportunity Grants. She counts as her most rewarding career experience as having served a business/technology education teacher for grades 9 through 12, helping adult learners return to earn their GEDs through her alma mater, Burke High School in Charleston.

Dr. Edwards earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Pre-Law/Political Science from Saint Augustineā€™s University, a Master of Arts in Human Resources/Training Development from Webster University and a Doctorate of Education, Organizational Management with a specialization in Higher Education from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Edwards earned a Post-Doctorate Credential from Harvard University School of Education and is a Global Certified Career Development Facilitator.

Dr. Edwards enjoys spending time with her son, Larry, III who is a Freshmen Scholar Athlete (Quarterback) attending Albany State University (Albany, Georgia) and Fur Baby Mama Mia.

Knights, please avoid travel if possible ā€“ and stay safe and warm out there.

Pamela Bowie brings 15 years of enrollment management experience to her role as Ķęż½ć½ćā€™s new CRM Administrator.Ģż Pamela will be a member of the enrollment leadership team as a direct report to the Vice President of Enrollment Management. During her three years as senior director of admissions at Arkansas State University, Pamela led the ongoing implementation of Slate by Technolutions, overseeing all aspects of application creation and maintenance, SIS migration, marketing, reporting, and training. As a Slate captain for A-State, Pamela received direct training from Technolutions staff and attended Launch Pad in 2019 and the virtual Summit Conference in 2021. Immediately prior to her time at Arkansas State University, Pamela served as director of admissions at the University of Arkansas ā€“ Pulaski Technical College, where she leveraged CRM technology to decrease application review time and increase prospect marketing. As associate director of admissions at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Pamela created onboarding and training manuals for full-time and student admissions staff, complete with both CRM and SIS guides for key processes. Pamela is active in the enrollment management profession and has presented at more than a dozen professional conferences, served as faculty for training modules offered by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and currently serves as a board member for the Southern Association of College Admission Counseling (SACAC). Pamela lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas with her spouse, Terell, and their two boys: Tyler (9) and Tyson (3). When sheā€™s not at the soccer field or making sā€™mores in the backyard, Pamela keeps busy by pursuing a doctorate in education at the University of Arkansas and serving with her sorority sisters as Vice President of the Jonesboro Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Please welcome Pamela to the Warner Pacific team!

Ķęż½ć½ć will host Fall Preview Day on Friday November 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its campus, located in the heart of Southeast Portland at 2219 SE 68th Ave. Preview day will offer prospective students and their families a jam-packed look at the college admissions process, campus life, financial aid, degree programs, and just what it means to be a Warner Knight. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with current students, faculty, and admission counselors prepared to answer questions and talk about putting faith in action at Ķęż½ć½ć. The event is open to those seeking associateā€™s, bachelorā€™s and masterā€™s degrees.

ā€œAs a Christ-centered university, we are focused on equipping our students with the competence, character and credentials they need to go out and fulfill their personal calling in the world,ā€ says Dr. Brian L. Johnson, President of Ķęż½ć½ć. ā€œPreview Day is a special opportunity for us to welcome students and families to our highly diverse campus environment, and to offer information that will support their future educational path.ā€

Warner Pacific offers 36 undergraduate degrees, 7 graduate degrees, 11 online degrees, and 34 minors in Business, Education, Nursing, Criminal Justice, Health Science, Social Work, Arts and Behavioral Science, and more. Rated the #1 Best Value College in the Pacific Northwest, Warner Pacificā€™s tuition is 40% lower than the average private universityā€™s tuition in the Pacific Northwest.

In addition, the university features a low student/faculty ratio of 14 to 1, smaller class size, and opportunities for meaningful internships. More than 60% of students identify as multi-racial, and the institution is the first university to earn a federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution in Oregon.