Pete Menjares, Ph.D., took the baton July 28 as the 11th president of Fresno Pacific University—and he’s already running at full speed.

Menjares got a literal hand-off from retiring President D. Merrill Ewert at the national convention of FPU’s sponsoring denomination, the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, in Omaha, receiving a baton inscribed with Hebrews 12:1: “….let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

The many faces that make up FPU were recognized at the Night of Cultural Celebration May 4 in Ashley Auditorium on the main campus.

D. Merrill Ewert told the 2012 graduates what he has told every Fresno Pacific University graduating class for a decade: “Commencement is my favorite day of the year!”

 

What’s significant about Ewert’s May 5 announcement is that this favorite day was his last as a college professor, administrator and president. Ewert, who became FPU president in June 2002 after a career at Wheaton College, the University of Maryland and Cornell University, will retire July 31, 2012. Pete Menjares, a faculty member and administrator at Biola University, will be 11th president.

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 Fresno Pacific University Board of Trustees has selected a candidate for the university presidency.

Pete Menjares, Ph.D., was approved by the board January 27 on recommendation of the presidential search committee. He currently serves as Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Academic Effectiveness at Biola University.

“Management is a technology from the 1850s,” author Daniel Pink said at the FPU Business Forum. About 930 people gathered for breakfast October 26 in the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center New Exhibit Hall. “How many technologies from the 1850s are in use today?”

Don’t manage employees, engage them.