John C. Bowling
University president
B.A., 1971, Olivet Nazarene University
M.A., 1972, Olivet Nazarene University
M.R.E., 1973, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Ed.D., 1978, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
D.Min., 1988, Southern Methodist University
D.Div., 2006, Olivet Nazarene University
jbowling@olivet.eduJohn Carl Bowling has been the president of Olivet Nazarene University since 1991.
Prior to accepting his current position in August of 1991, Dr. Bowling served for eight years as the senior pastor of the College Church of the Nazarene in Bourbonnais, Illinois. He also served as senior pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene, Dallas, Texas. He has been a member of the faculty at Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and at Olivet Nazarene University.
Dr. Bowling holds a bachelor's degree, two master's degrees, two earned doctorates and was chosen as a Resident Fellow for post-doctoral studies at Harvard University.
In addition to his work at Olivet, Dr. Bowling is active with a variety of professional organizations and in local community affairs. He is vice chairman of the Riverside Health System Board in Kankakee, Illinois, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a member of the Board of People's Bank in Kankakee.
Dr. Bowling also serves as president of the International General Board of the Church of the Nazarene. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri and the Church of the Nazarene Foundation Board of Directors. He is a member of the USA/Canada Council of Education and the International Board of Education for the Church of the Nazarene.
In addition to over 60 published articles, he has authored four books, A Way With Words, Grace-full Leadership, Packin' Up and Headin' Out: Making the Most of Your College Adventure, co-authored with his wife, Jill, and most recently, Making the Climb, which details his climb up Mt. Kilamanjaro.