Dr. Joe Watkins
After meeting with the board of trustees in February, PLNU President Dr. Bob Brower announced that Dr. Joe Watkins will serve as the new Vice President of External Relations, effective March 15, 2007.
The new position was created after a reorganization of the Cabinet, which entailed consolidating the responsibilities of University Advancement and the work of External Affairs. This is a growing trend in higher education, and recent activities with a broadening base of relationships emphasizes the need to have a more coordinated effort to all of the university’s external constituents.
“For over a century, Point Loma Nazarene University has been blessed by God with great friends who have prayed, given and labored to secure the future of the university. I am looking forward to working with them and the university leadership team to secure the next one hundred years of the university,” said Watkins.
Offices Watkins will oversee include University Advancement and Financial Development, Planned Giving, External and Government Relations, Admissions, Alumni, and Marketing and Creative Services.
Watkins has a bachelor’s in pastoral theology and a master’s in ministry from Point Loma, as well as a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Arizona. He is also an ordained pastor in the Church of the Nazarene and has served as both an associate and senior pastor, as well as in various ministerial roles.
Dr. Mary Paul
Upon recommendations by President Dr. Bob Brower to the Board of Trustees, it has been announced that Dr. Mary Paul will be appointed as the new Vice President of Spiritual Development at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Dr. Paul is currently an Associate Professor of Christian Ministry at Olivet Nazarene University. An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, Dr. Paul has pastored and served as an associate pastor at churches around the Boston area prior to her university teaching.
Dr. Paul and her husband, Bruce, have two teenage sons, Wesley and Jonathan. They plan to move to San Diego in mid-summer and she will begin her work at PLNU sometime in July.
“I am excited about this new adventure and challenge. The Spiritual Development team is made up of a great group of people,” Paul said. “I look forward to working with them in ministry to the PLNU community. Point Loma is such a vibrant university; it's hard not to want to be part of its mission.”
Dr. Caye Smith
Additionally, the Board approved Brower’s recommendation of the appointment of Dr. Caye Smith to the position of Vice President for Student Development, effective August 16, 2007.
Dr. Smith is currently serving as Associate Vice President for Student Development and is actively engaged in leadership through her various areas of responsibility. Smith serves in several University-wide committees and contributes through many volunteer assignments.
Dr. Smith and Dr. Gordon Golsan, the active VP for Student Development who is retiring in August, will be working in these next few months to design an effective process of transition that will insure that the university move effectively into the next academic year with the full effort of our Student Development programs and services.
“Overall, I’m very excited and honored,” said Smith. “I consider it a huge opportunity to serve God, our university, and the students. The years a student invests at an institution like ours are rich years, and we want to provide rich opportunity for every student to grow into the person God wants him or her to be,” she added.
Eric Yates
Media Relations Officer
(619) 849-7186
eyates@pointloma.edu