Trevecca Nazarene University’s Board of Trustees announced the election of Tom Middendorf as the university’s 12th president on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Middendorf, who serves as provost, senior vice president and chief of staff, will assume office 1 July 2027, following the retirement of Dan Boone, who has led Trevecca since 2005.
The announcement comes during the University’s 125th homecoming weekend and concludes a national search led by Board of Trustees Chair Brian Wilson alongside FaithSearch Partners, an executive search firm with extensive experience in Christian higher education. Throughout the process, the search committee gathered feedback from faculty, staff, students, and other university constituents. After reviewing numerous candidates, the presidential search committee unanimously agreed to bring Middendorf’s name as the sole finalist to the board of trustees for final vote on November 5.
“We approached this search by giving priority to prayer,” Wilson said. “We committed to laying aside any personal agendas, with the aim of finding the mind of Christ regarding the next leader for Trevecca. That commitment to prayer and to the guidance of the Spirit, alongside a rigorous and critical national search process, brought the search committee and board to the unified conclusion that Tom Middendorf is the leader God has prepared for this next season of growth and development. Middendorf knows Trevecca deeply, has helped shape much of our recent growth and has earned the trust of our faculty, staff, students and board. We are confident in Trevecca’s future under his leadership.”
Middendorf earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Trevecca, a master’s degree in professional counseling from Olivet Nazarene University and a doctorate in ethical leadership from Olivet. He returned to Trevecca in 2008 and has served in progressively responsible leadership roles, including associate provost and dean of academic and student affairs, before being named provost in 2019. He oversees academic affairs, marketing, enrollment, student development, and graduate and adult education. He also serves as a professor of leadership studies.
Middendorf’s connection to Trevecca and the Church of the Nazarene runs deep. As a third-generation Treveccan, he follows a family legacy that began with his grandfather, who helped construct buildings on campus as a student; continued through his parents, who met on the Hill; and remains evident in his own journey as a student leader, alumnus, and professional with a deep commitment to Christian higher education. He met his wife, Jessica (’00), at Trevecca. Together, they have built a life centered on faith and family, raising two children, Marley and Asher, while remaining actively engaged in the Church of the Nazarene.
“Trevecca is not simply a place where I work,” Middendorf said. “It has shaped my faith, my calling and my family for three generations. I do not view the presidency as an achievement to attain; I view it as a stewardship to receive. My hope is that we leave Trevecca’s mission stronger than we found it and continue preparing students for meaningful work, faithful service and lives of leadership. We are just getting started.”
Middendorf will succeed Boone, whose 22-year tenure has transformed the University. Under Boone’s leadership, Trevecca grew from approximately 2,000 students to nearly 4,000; expanded its academic offerings to more than 100 programs ranging from associate degrees to doctoral programs; and invested more than $250 million in campus construction and renovation.
Boone, who will work alongside Middendorf through the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year in a transitional capacity, praised the board’s selection.
“From the beginning of this process, we have prayed that God would bring the right leader to Trevecca, and I believe he has answered that prayer in Tom,” Boone said.
“Trevecca has never been about one person,” he continued. “It’s about a community that has been faithful to its calling for 125 years. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Tom since 2008, and I’ve seen firsthand his love for our students, his steady leadership and his deep commitment to our mission. First Lady Denise and I are thrilled for Tom and Jessica, and we look forward to supporting them in every way we can.”
Middendorf will be presented to the Trevecca community during Founder’s Day Chapel at 10 a.m. on Friday, 6 November 2026, in the Boone Convocation Center, where Boone will also deliver his final lecture as president.