Pete Menjares selected as FPU’s 11th president

by John Thiesen and Larry Martens on March 5, 2012

Pete Menjares, Ph.D., will be the 11th president of Fresno Pacific University. The FPU Board of Trustees voted to appoint Menjares during regular board meetings March 2-3.

“The Board of Trustees is pleased to appoint Dr. Pete Menjares as president of Fresno Pacific University. Pete has exhibited strength of character, grace, dignity and humility throughout the search process. His leadership abilities and experience and his deep spiritual commitments will serve him well as he leads this Christian university,” said John Thiesen, board chair and co-chair of the presidential search committee.

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the 11th president of Fresno Pacific University and I am looking forward with great anticipation to serving this vibrant and dedicated academic community,” said Menjares, who received his Ph. D. in education: language, literacy and learning, from the University of Southern California in 1998. His master of arts in education: teaching and curriculum, is from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and his bachelor of arts in religion in pastoral ministries is from Vanguard University. For the last 16 years, Menjares has been a teacher and administrator at Biola University, mostly recently serving as Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Academic Effectiveness.

Menjares has also served with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities as a conference presenter and consultant on intercultural competencies. Currently he is a senior fellow in the Leadership Development Institute, a program dedicated to helping emerging leaders explore their vocational call in CCCU institutions. Menjares has also been a public school teacher, a licensed minister and a senior pastor. He and his wife, Virginia, are natives and lifelong residents of the Los Angeles area.

The presidential search committee included faculty, staff, students, board members and community representatives. Executive search firm the Dingman Company facilitated the search process for the university. Four final candidates were presented to the search committee for interviews. The committee then recommended Menjares to the board as a finalist, and the board invited Pete and Virginia to the university in February for three days of meetings with members of the FPU community, who provided feedback to the board.

The selection process was rigorous and inclusive. “This is a wonderful end to a thorough, wide-ranging and prayerful search for FPU’s next president. We are thankful for all who participated and for all who have prayed for the university this past nine months as we engaged in the search,” said Larry Martens, presidential search co-chair and university trustee.

Menjares takes over from D. Merrill Ewert, who will retire effective July 31, 2012, after 10 years as president. “I have come to know and deeply appreciate Pete through our shared participation in CCCU. He has the respect of leaders throughout Christian higher education and I am confident he is the one to lead Fresno Pacific to a whole new level of success,” Ewert said.

More from Biola University at

http://now.biola.edu/news/article/2012/mar/02/vice-provost-named-president-fresno-pacific-univer/

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Search Update – 3, November 15, 2011

by admin on November 15, 2011

The Search Committee met Monday, November 14, and received an update on the presidential search process. It also began to prepare for the task of selecting finalists from a list of prime candidates that Bruce Dingman, our consultant, will present to the search committee. The most common question we receive is “How is the search going?” Our standard response? “We are pleased with the progress and we encourage your prayers for the search.” “We are pleased with the progress” is not just a glib comment. It has been exciting to see the list of potential candidates grow in number. It has been a privilege to be on the front line and see God at work as candidates have been contacted and to have personal conversations with some have who are seriously considering the position. Bruce Dingman, our consultant, has a front row seat to see God at work throughout the process. Last week he gave us an update and indicated that a fine list of prime candidates is emerging. Once that list is complete, the search committee will select four finalists from the list and conduct interviews with the finalists. So, yes, we are pleased with the progress that is being made in the search for FPU’s next president.

Neither is “We encourage your prayers for the search” a glib comment. We believe in the power of prayer. We also believe God desires for us to bring our requests and hearts desires to him. And, we believe earnest prayer has great power and produces wonderful results (James 5:16). Prayer is particularly important now as candidates complete their Vitas and questionnaires for the position and as Mr. Dingman conducts interviews with them. So, please continue to pray for God’s guidance and direction in the search process.

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Search Update – 2, October 18, 2011

November 2, 2011

The Search Committee met Tuesday, September 11 to receive an update on the search process from our co-chair and to finalize a list of questions that will be used for the interview of candidates.  We are encouraged and pleased by the strength and depth of the candidate pool. Our search consultant, Bruce Dingman, reminded us [...]

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Searching for a new president

September 20, 2011

Welcome to the first update to the search process for the next president of Fresno Pacific.  It is hard to believe that three months have already passed since President Merrill Ewert’s resignation and the search began.  We are very encouraged by the positive tone, energetic spirit, and dedication of the Search Committee as we have [...]

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