Dr. Jules Glanzer Named New President of Tabor College
Dr. Jules Glanzer, current Dean of George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Ore., has accepted an invitation from the Board of Directors of Tabor College to lead the College into its second century as president, replacing Larry Nikkel, who retires at the end of last year. Dr. Glanzer was inaugurated as Tabor College’s 13th President on May 9, 2008.
Answering the call to become Tabor’s new president is a “God-arranged opportunity,” Dr. Glanzer said, speaking for himself and his wife, Peggy, “The opportunity to serve the Tabor community and the church in this new way is one that excites us and challenges us to give it our all.”
Dr. Jules Glanzer, who was named President of Tabor College on Monday, spoke at a chapel service for students, faculty and staff on Sept. 21 at the College.
A 1974 Business Administration graduate of Tabor College, Dr. Glanzer received his Master of Divinity Degree from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in 1978, and his Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Church Management from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2000.
After serving as a pastor in the Mennonite Brethren and Evangelical Covenant denominations for nearly a quarter century, Dr. Glanzer became Dean of George Fox Evangelical Seminary, where he has served since 2001.
In an upbeat announcement Monday to Tabor College students, faculty and staff, Tabor Board Chairman Lyndon Vix wrote, “I’m sorry I don’t have the authority to cancel classes for a day of celebration.”
“I would like to publicly thank the Presidential Search Committee: Dr. Ted Faszer, Dr. David Wiebe, Diana Raugust, Rusty Allen, Judy Harder and Steve Schroeder, for their good work in leading us to this point,” Vix added.
A firm date for Dr. Glanzer to assume the Tabor College presidency has not yet been established, but it will be sometime in the second semester, Vix said, adding that the seven-month search to find a qualified successor to President Nikkel was, “The most significant decision that the Board of Directors faced as we approach our centennial.”
“Larry Nikkel’s tenure at Tabor will be remembered as tremendously positive time for the College,” Vix said. “Larry built community on campus, significantly expanded our constituency and represented the College with class and dignity. He also completed a major capital campaign and secured the two largest gifts in Tabor’s history. He leaves big shoes to fill.”
Vix expressed confidence that Dr. Glanzer is the right person to build on the foundation laid by President Nikkel.
“Jules, like Larry before him, is a Tabor person,” Vix said. “He has a passion not only for Christian higher education, but for Christian higher education at Tabor. We are blessed to have a gifted alumnus like Jules willing to come back and lead our institution into its second 100 years.”
The leader of the search committee, Dr. Faszer agreed, adding, “Our committee is excited about Dr. Glanzer’s leadership gifts, and his record of service in Christian higher education.”
Dr. Glanzer grew up on a traditional Mennonite farm near Mitchell, S.D. He married Peggy Todd, in 1972, and all three of their children, Jeremy (1998); Nicole (Glanzer) Quiring (1999); and Matt (2001); as well as their children’s spouses, Jeremy’s wife, Jodi (Siebel) Glanzer (1999); Nicole’s husband, Jason Quiring (1998), and Matt’s wife, Chrissy (Privetera) Glanzer (2003), graduated from Tabor College.
Although he did not apply for the President’s position, Dr. Glanzer’s name came up several times during the initial search process.
After being recommended as the primary candidate by the search committee, Dr. Glanzer and his wife visited Tabor College in Hillsboro, Sept. 20-22. The entire campus community was invited to hear Dr. Glanzer speak in a special chapel service on Sept. 21. Faculty and staff also met with Dr. Glanzer for informal questions and answers.
Throughout the process of determining God’s will, the search committee solicited questions and comments from on campus and the broader Tabor constituency
Dr. Glanzer’s philosophy of life is listed as his “Personal Vision/Mission Statement,” in his curriculum vitae, which reads, “To honor and trust God with my life by being a person of influence, inspiring and impacting with integrity and relevance the lives of those who will influence others.”
In addition to his current role as Dean at George Fox Evangelical Seminary, Dr. Glanzer was pastor of the Ulysses Mennonite Brethren Church from 1978 to 1982, and was founding pastor of Faith Community (Evangelical Covenant) Church in Houston, Texas, from 1987 to 2001. He also taught religion courses as an Associate Professor at George Fox Evangelical Seminary; was an adjunct professor at Houston Graduate School of Theology; and presented scores of seminars and lectures in the United States and around the world, including St. James Bible College in Magadan, Russia.
