"Ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1991, Nunes holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University Ann Arbor, a Master of Divinity from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology and a doctorate in philosophy from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago."
Since beginning his role as interim president of Cal Lutheran University on June 1, John Nunes has immersed himself in the campus culture.
He can be seen shaking hands with faculty at concerts and athletic events, learning how to speak Spanish to connect with more students, and waving to Thousand Oaks residents from the golf cart he drives around campus. He believes that connecting with the community matters.
“I’m called and I’m honored to serve,” said Nunes during an interview hours after his Aug. 29 installation ceremony. “I pray every morning and every night and sometimes I say, ‘Just pinch me’ because this job is such a great job and I thank God every day for the opportunity to serve.”
Most recently serving as the pastor at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, Nunes considers his current position the next step in his mission.
He said his career has been spent in the faith-based nonprofit space in an effort to help marginalized communities flourish.
He was CEO of Lutheran World Relief, a member of the Bipartisan Policy Centers’Academic Leaders Task Force on Campus Free Expression, a senior fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy, and president of Concordia College New York from 2016 to 2021 when the school closed.
He describes his leadership style as one of decisiveness but, most importantly, empathy.
“I’ve really worked hard to be collaborative and transparent and to engender an environment where everyone is valued and everyone has a voice,” Nunes said.
With students of color making up 54% of its undergraduate population and 38% of the population being first-generation college students, CLU has the ability to transform lives, he said.
“I come from a family that has flourished due to the benefit of an education and the access to an education,” said Nunes, who holds a doctorate of philosophy from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. “Education is the best anti-poverty program that we have in the United States.”
Though he was hired on a two-year interim basis to replace CLU President Lori Varlotta, whose resignation became effective May 31, he sees his role as more than a mere placeholder.
“Two years means there’s some work to be done in the interim, and I’m really excited about that,” he said.
He plans to lead a thorough analysis of the university’s business model and budget challenges. This will likely result, he said, in difficult decisions that are necessary to adapt the university and its programs to the current environment of higher education.
Enrollment has dropped roughly 23% since 2019, and from 2019 to 2023, total operating revenue decreased 4%, according to university data.
Perhaps the president’s top priority, however, will be improving CLU’s relationships in the community.
“The board is really concerned around strengthening the culture at California Lutheran University, and bolstering trust and confidence and joy on campus among faculty and staff,” Nunes said. “I hope I can be helpful in that.”
During her four years as president, Varlotta faced criticism regarding her relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and community partners. Critics claimed former U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly’s lawsuit and the departure of the Los Angeles Rams under her leadership damaged the university’s reputation, and she received an overwhelming vote of no confidence by faculty in January.
Faculty leaders told the Acorn that Nunes has already improved campus morale.
“I am very hopeful about Cal Lutheran’s future under President Nunes’ leadership,” said Sharon Docter, chair of the Faculty Senate. “Nunes already has established very positive relationships with students, faculty, staff and the broader community. He is an inspirational leader who has a keen understanding of what a special place Cal Lutheran is.”
“I have been really impressed with President Nunes and his leadership,” said Michael Hart, faculty representative to the Board of Regents. “I have found him to be thoughtful, open to dialogue and collaboration, and very perceptive.”
Nunes said that he cannot speak to how strong the school was in the past but that he looks forward to a brighter future.
“I don’t know what three years ago was like and I don’t know what five years ago was like, but I know this: Everywhere I go—and I spend a lot of time in the community— people care about California Lutheran University and they ask, ‘How can I help?’” he said.
From Mayor Al Adam to a neighbor walking her dog on campus, everyone he has met in Thousand Oaks wants to see CLU succeed, Nunes said.
To build on existing relationships with stakeholders, Nunes plans first to listen.
Then, he will focus on how Cal Lutheran can best serve the community, whether it’s through the Center for Nonprofit Leadership or the Center for Lifelong Learning.
“We see ourselves as part of the community and in service to the community,” Nunes said. “That’s one of the reasons I think so many people have been so concerned about how things are going here, and I’m super excited to deliver the message that things are going really well.”
+++
‘Endless gratitude’: Concordia College New York celebrates final commencement
Bronxville, N.Y. — To the casual observer, the May 8 commencement ceremonies on the campus of Concordia College New York (CCNY), Bronxville, N.Y., represented a familiar rite of spring, a joyous event occurring thousands of times across the country, including at three other Concordia University System schools on this date. But for the students, families, faculty, staff and extended CCNY community, this day was uniquely bittersweet, the final commencement in the school’s history. Founded in 1881, CCNY served for 140 years as the Eastern educational institution of the LCMS. Later this year, it will close its doors for good.
“Today, you are a Concordia College New York graduate,” wrote CCNY President Rev. Dr. John A. Nunes in his letter to graduates in the commencement booklet. “You join nearly a century and a half of impact-makers whose positive influence on our world is incalculable.”
2009 - Nunes
Long-time readers remember when a homosexual organist, Eric Henstenberg, murdered a female church member and burned the house, hoping to hide the crime. When they tied the crime to him, he accused the dead saint of trying sexually assault him. No one believed him.
The congregation was LCMS, Texas. The organist was working on the next LMCS convention (2004). The pastor was John Nunes, who fled the scene and showed up next as the head of the liberal Wheatridge Foundation.
Nunes was a featured speaker at some event recently. Apostates take care of their own.
St Marcus received a $25,000 grant from Wheat Ridge in late 2008:
http://www.wheatridge.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=khLSKZPDLoF&b=3891075&ct=6347545
Affiliation
Wheat Ridge is a recognized service organization of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
On the Board of Directors is:
Ms. Wendy Greenfield
Vice President of Development & Communications
HOPE Christian Schools
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
wendylgreenfield@yahoo.com
