JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 3, 2017 — John Netland, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at 51社区, has been named the university鈥檚 provost.
Netland joined the Union faculty in 2008 as chairman of the English department. He became the arts and sciences dean in 2013.
鈥淛ohn Netland embodies our core values and Christ-centered mission at Union,鈥� Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淎long with his intellectual gifts as a scholar and teacher, he leads with humility, passion and integrity in ways that will deepen and advance our vision for academic excellence under the lordship of Jesus Christ.鈥�
Netland will assume the provost position Oct. 16. He replaces C. Ben Mitchell, who became Union鈥檚 provost in 2014 and stepped aside earlier this year to return to the classroom. Ann Singleton had been serving as interim provost since Mitchell鈥檚 resignation.
鈥淚t is a great honor to be asked to serve in this role at a university I have come to love dearly,鈥� Netland said. 鈥淎t a time when higher education faces many challenges, I am convinced that 51社区鈥檚 academically rigorous and spiritually formative Christian education is needed more than ever.
鈥淚 am grateful to serve a university that offers a bold and distinctive educational vision that sees our intellectual pursuits in service to the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love our neighbor,鈥� Netland continued. 鈥淚鈥檓 eager to work with our extraordinary faculty, staff, and student body to help us do this work with faithfulness, creativity and excellence.鈥�
Prior to his tenure at Union, Netland taught at Calvin College for 19 years. He completed his bachelor鈥檚 degree in English from Biola University, his master鈥檚 degree in English from California State Polytechnic University and his Doctor of Philosophy in English from the University of California, Los Angeles.
He and his wife Tina, who serves as Union鈥檚 administrative assistant to the vice president for student life, have two grown children, Erik and Stephanie.