Trevecca Names Tom Middendorf 12th President
Trevecca Nazarene University has selected its provost, Tom Middendorf, to succeed Dan Boone as president beginning July 1.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People
Trevecca Nazarene University named Tom Middendorf as its 12th president, selected through a national search led by Board of Trustees Chair Brian Wilson and FaithSearch Partners. Middendorf, currently provost, senior vice president and chief of staff, will succeed Dan Boone, who is retiring after 22 years.
Why it matters
The appointment places a longtime insider in charge of a Nashville university that grew from roughly 2,000 to nearly 4,000 students during Boone's tenure. The transition signals continuity for the institution's academic and campus expansion strategy.
Under Dan Boone's 22-year tenure, enrollment rose from approximately 2,000 to nearly 4,000 students and more than $250 million was invested in campus construction and renovation. Tom Middendorf, who has worked at the school since 2008, helped create more than 25 new academic programs.
The players
Tom Middendorf
Trevecca's provost, senior vice president and chief of staff, who has worked at the university since 2008 and will become its 12th president.
Dan Boone
Trevecca's outgoing president, who led the university for 22 years and oversaw significant enrollment and campus growth before retiring.
Brian Wilson
Chair of Trevecca's Board of Trustees, who led the national search that resulted in Middendorf's selection.
The details
Middendorf holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Trevecca and helped launch the university's four-year nursing program. The selection was made through a national search led by Board of Trustees Chair Brian Wilson and FaithSearch Partners, and the announcement was made during the university's 125th homecoming weekend.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Trevecca announces Middendorf as its next president during homecoming weekend.
July 1, 2027: Middendorf takes over as president from Dan Boone.
Market Landscape
The transition follows Trevecca's expansion from about 2,000 to nearly 4,000 students during Dan Boone's 22-year tenure. Choosing an internal provost with more than 25 new academic programs to his credit positions the institution to keep building on that growth rather than pivot.
Students and families considering Trevecca will find continuity in leadership, since the incoming president is already the university's chief academic and administrative officer. Prospective students should watch for any changes to programs or tuition announced after the July 2027 transition.
The takeaway
Institutions that grow through internal succession often preserve their strategic direction, so the choice of a provost with a deep record of program development suggests Trevecca's academic expansion will continue. Watching how the new president balances enrollment growth with the costs of recent construction will reveal how that direction takes shape.
What happens next
Middendorf officially takes over as Trevecca Nazarene University's president on July 1, 2027, when Dan Boone's tenure ends.
Further reading
For more on local leadership changes, see People coverage across the Nashville area.
