NGU to Combine Offices of Campus Ministries and Student Life

Jody Jennings named vice president for campus ministries and student engagement at NGU.

Tigerville, SC (March 29, 2019) North Greenville University has announced that Jody Jennings has been appointed to serve as vice president for campus ministries and student engagement, effective June 1, 2019. Dr. Steve Crouse will continue to serve in leadership as the senior campus pastor, where he will be the university’s chief spiritual formation officer and continue to teach in the university’s Christian ministries programs.

“This year, NGU has been focusing on aligning its programs under our Christ-first mission,” stated NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., “and we understand that at too many universities, the offices of campus ministries and student life can be at cross purposes. This new role combines the areas of campus ministries, student life, and residential life all under one leader, who is tasked with ensuring that all of our extra-curricular student experiences emphasize our identity as an unapologetically Christian institution. I cannot imagine a better leader for this role than Jody Jennings.”

Jennings returned to his alma mater in 2008, overseeing the work of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries and currently serving as the associate vice president for campus ministries. In addition to his work at NGU, he served as a missionary to Uganda with the International Mission Board and as a church planter in North Dakota with the North American Mission Board. He is widely sought-after as a speaker and expert on working with millennials and Gen-Z students. While at NGU, he sang in Joyful Sound and completed an undergraduate degree in business administration. He holds the M. Div. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also is nearing the completion of his Ed.D. He and Emily have been married since 2000 and have five children.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve in this new role. I have been privileged to learn from incredible mentors over my years here at the university. I am looking forward to building on the strong foundation of leadership that has been established through the years,” said Jennings. “The days ahead will maintain an unapologetic commitment to Jesus Christ and the development of transformational leaders for Church and society.”

Crouse has been at NGU since 1991, serving as the vice president for campus ministries and senior campus pastor. In his new role, he will serve as the university’s chief spiritual formation officer, expanding his influence as senior campus pastor. He will continue to serve on the university’s executive leadership council and will teach courses in Christian ministry, primarily in NGU’s graduate programs.

“This past year, Dr. Crouse and Provost Dr. Nathan Finn co-led a special task force to review how spiritual formation is undertaken in every aspect of the university. Dr. Crouse will lead the implementation of this task force’s recommendations across campus, with faculty, staff, and students. He is particularly qualified for this task by both passion and specialized training,” said President Fant.

Crouse holds two earned doctorates from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the D.Min. and the Ph.D., specializing in spiritual formation, evangelism, and campus ministries. He and his wife Martha have three adult children. A graduate of Gardner-Webb University, he also completed his M. Div. at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“I am excited about my expanded role as senior campus pastor. As our university continues to grow in academic excellence, it is critical that we also grow spiritually if we are to fulfill our mission,” said Dr. Steve Crouse. “As chief spiritual formation officer, I look forward to working with our talented and gifted faculty and staff, as well as with our students, to facilitate spiritual growth. As professor of missions, evangelism, and spiritual formation, I also look forward to an expanded role in the classroom. It is a joy to continue to serve at NGU.”