MidAmerica Nazarene University President Jon North announced the appointment of Ron Jackson as assistant to the president for church relations, effective 15 September 2025. Jackson will succeed Randy Cloud, who retired at the end of August following decades of service to MNU and the North Central Region of the Church of the Nazarene.
A seasoned leader, educator, and pastor, Jackson brings more than 40 years of ministry experience across the local, district, and global Church of the Nazarene. His leadership at MNU, which began in 2008, has included serving as an assistant professor of youth ministry, director of The Call @ MNU (a youth institute), director of summer conferences, director of the Land Gymnasium, and dean of campus life. He is widely recognized for his work in youth and college ministry, having served in various roles for churches in Alabama, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, including as college and senior high pastor at Olathe College Church of the Nazarene.
“Jackson is uniquely gifted to lead in this vital role,” said North. “He has faithfully served the church, the university, and generations of students with wisdom, winsome humor, and Christlike leadership. His deep understanding of our denominational structure and strong relationships across the North Central Field make him ideally suited to strengthen our church engagement and extend the reach of MNU’s mission.”
As assistant to the president for church relations, Jackson will coordinate the university’s efforts to serve churches within the North Central Field, representing MNU’s mission and vision to church constituents. He will oversee and coordinate a diverse array of interaction with districts, churches, clergy, and Nazarene institutions. He will also manage the church-related events calendar, represent the university at district assemblies and retreats, and partner with university departments and district leadership to develop collaborative opportunities for ministerial education and lifelong learning.
Jackson will also continue his leadership of The Call @ MNU, a popular, weeklong residential youth institute for high schoolers exploring their call to ministry. This year, The Call welcomed 80 students for theological training, biblical instruction, service learning, and fun. The Call @ MNU is made possible by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.
Jackson is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Excellence in Youth Ministry Award, the Timothy Award from the Kansas City District, the Charles K. Morrow Service Award from the Nazarene Student Leadership Conference, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Youthfront. He holds a Doctor of Education from Olivet Nazarene University, a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and bachelor’s degrees in religion and history from Trevecca Nazarene University and the University of Alabama, respectively.
On his appointment, Jackson said, “It is a great honor to serve MNU and the Church of the Nazarene in this capacity. No account of my life would be complete without a description of the impact of both these institutions on my life. I look forward to working closely with pastors, district leaders, and congregations across the region to support their ministry and share the life-changing mission of MNU.”
Jackson and his wife, Sharon, reside in Olathe, Kansas, and attend College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe. They have two married daughters.