Interim president appointed:
John D. Yordy

The Goshen College Board of Director’s Executive Committee and President’s Council, with the support of Mennonite Education Agency, have worked together to plan for the college’s presidential transition following the resignation of President Shirley H. Showalter.

Virgil Miller, chair of the Board, announced that John D. Yordy, provost and executive vice president since 1997, accepted the invitation to serve as the college’s interim president, while a search for a new president takes place.

“ We are confident that John Yordy, who is a well-respected administrator and is known for his commitment to the Mennonite Church, will continue to serve Goshen College well in leading the President’s Council and, by extension, the entire institution,” said Miller. “There is excellent support within the President’s Council, which is a strong group of professionals. This interim leadership structure will carry the vision of the college forward, addressing issues and moving ahead in positive ways.”
Showalter named Yordy as provost prior to her inauguration as president. Yordy’s duties included overseeing and coordinating the offices of the academic dean and dean of students as well as supervising the college budget offices and information technology and managing strategic planning processes. As provost, he also served as chief executive officer in the absence of the president.

A 1967 Goshen College graduate, Yordy worked as an industry research chemist and received his doctorate in organic chemistry from Michigan State University in 1974. He belongs to numerous state and national academic and scientific organizations. He is the recipient of a Sears and Roebuck award for excellence in teaching. Yordy has spent significant time abroad, working for Mennonite Central Committee and Heifer Project International for two years in Mexico, and teaching in Nigeria, from 1967 to 1970. During a teaching sabbatical, he was a visiting professor of chemistry at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. With his wife, Winnie, he has led SST units in Honduras and the Dominican Republic. They are parents of three adult sons, all GC graduates, and are members of College Mennonite Church.

Yordy, who has served on the faculty since 1977, said, “I am confident that this leadership team, which had been assembled by President Showalter, will continue to work collaboratively with the campus community and constituents in our mutual commitment to educate students for leadership and service in the church and the world.”