Longtime provost to succeed Dr. Dan Boone following his retirement in 2027
The announcement comes during the University’s 125th homecoming weekend and concludes a national search led by Board of Trustees Chair Dr. 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 hundreds of candidates, the presidential search committee unanimously agreed to bring Dr. Middendorf's name as the sole finalist to the board of trustees for final vote on November 5.
Of the board’s decision, Wilson said, “We approached this search by giving priority to prayer. 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 Dr. Tom Middendorf is the leader God has prepared for this next season of growth and development. Dr. 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, and he also serves as a professor of leadership studies.
Middendorf’s connection to Trevecca and the Church of the Nazarene runs deep. 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. It was also at Trevecca that he met his wife, Jessica (’00). 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.
In accepting the role, Middendorf said, “Trevecca is not simply a place where I work. 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.”
During his tenure, Middendorf has helped lead record enrollment and retention, the creation of more than 25 new academic programs and the launch of Trevecca’s four-year nursing program. He has also expanded health sciences and built strategic partnerships across Nashville and the region.
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. Trevecca has never been about one person. 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.”
The announcement comes during Trevecca’s 125th anniversary year, celebrated under the theme “Rooted, Refined and Ready.” Middendorf will be presented to the Trevecca community during Founder’s Day Chapel at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in the Boone Convocation Center, where Boone will also deliver his final lecture as president. A meet and greet will follow on Waggoner Lawn. Students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University are invited to attend.
To learn more about Trevecca Nazarene University, its presidential transition and 125th anniversary celebrations, visit www.trevecca.edu.