As MidAmerica Nazarene University marks 60 years, its story is best told through the leaders who helped shape it. From its early days as Mid America Nazarene College to its growth into a university, each president has carried forward a shared mission while navigating new challenges and opportunities.
For Dr. Donald Owens, MNU’s second president (1985-1989), leadership meant strengthening the university’s foundation during a formative time. Facing financial pressures and the need to rebuild trust with supporting churches, he focused on improving communication, deepening relationships, and clarifying mission.
“I wanted it to be a hotbed of missionary interest and a Great Commission school,” he said. “And I wanted us to bathe ourselves in 1 Corinthians 13. Love had to be paramount.”
Owens believed Christian higher education should shape both the church and society. “MNU is the church at work in education,” he said. “A vital Christian experience—letting the Holy Spirit permeate everything we do.”
He also expanded access through adult degree completion programs, meeting both financial realities and the needs of nontraditional students. Yet, like those who followed him, he points to people as the heart of his experience.
“The bright spot was the people,” he said. “Seeing students at commencement realize their goals—that was always special.”
For Dr. Richard Spindle, MNU’s third president (1989–2005), leadership was built on that foundation. A former faculty member, he stepped into the role with a deep understanding of the university’s culture and calling.
“I didn’t need an orientation,” he reflects. “I already understood what it meant to be a Pioneer.”
During his tenure, MNU experienced significant growth, including the transition from college to university status, the expansion of academic programs, and major campus development. Yet for Spindle, the most meaningful moments were also found in people.
“The time I got to spend with students…those are the memories I will always cherish.”
Dr. David J. Spittal, MNU’s fifth president (2012-2025), who retired in June 2025, echoes these thoughts.
“It is people, not systems or structures, who are the greatest treasures of this place,” Spittal said. “At MNU, the mission is lived out in the lives being shaped, students, faculty and staff, each created with purpose and transformed through Christ.”
Together, the perspectives of these leaders reflect both the foundation and the growth of MNU, an institution committed to faith, community, and the formation of students for lives of purpose.
