Important Announcement

from New College Franklin

Dear New College Community:

It is an amazing gift of God’s mercy that we begin our fifteenth year as a college this fall. For those of us who have been here awhile, it has been a journey of various twists and turns, but we are in the best position we have ever been: the largest student body, a solid reputation in the classical world, outstanding personnel, an excellent board, and continued financial stability. And the exciting thing is that we still have much room for growth in all these areas!

In 2012 the college faced the difficulties of a leadership transition plan that fell through. At that time, the Board (on which I serve), asked me if I would temporarily step in as president until they found a replacement over that next year or two. For the next eleven years I have attempted to juggle two full times jobs as well as a growing list of other responsibilities and opportunities.

As a start-up endeavor, I was able to leverage my relationships and speaking opportunities to build and grow the fledging college. In this time as well, we have built a solid foundation of the vision and culture of the college. While I have been delighted to serve, the college has continued to expand, and the needs of the school have outpaced my abilities and gifts. Now that we are established, the requirements for sustaining and continued flourishing of the institution necessitate a leader who exhibits the requisite skills to maintain and grow this precious place.

About 18 months ago, I began in earnest to bring this to the attention of the Board and to request that they begin the process of transition to a new President—someone who has the business acumen to oversee acquiring property for adequate space, strategize fundraising and faculty expansion, and support the internal structure of the organization.

Graciously, the Lord has provided such a person! Andy Patton, our current Chairman of the Board, has agreed to step in as Interim President of New College Franklin. Andy has a background in teaching and the Great Books, has an MBA from Vanderbilt University Owen School of Management as well as a Master’s degree from St John’s College, and reads in Latin, Greek, and French for fun. When I first met him about 10 years ago, I began praying for the possibility of him becoming president of NCF someday.

It is my plan to continue to teach and to serve as Founder and Dean of Students. It is because I love NCF and what the Lord does here in students’ lives so much, that I earnestly desire this transition for the good of the college. But because I do love it so much, I am also not going anywhere!

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Dear New College Community:

When I joined the Board of New College nearly a decade ago, the challenges we were facing were existential, and Board conversations frequently revolved around how to keep the college afloat. Since then, I have watched Greg navigate through those difficult times and bring us to a point where, as you have just read, the college is in its strongest position ever. The gracious hand of Providence has been evident throughout in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff.

It is a passion for this vision that has led me to accept the Board’s call to step in as Interim President. My connection to New College predates the college itself, as it was my roommate at St. John’s more than 20 years ago who went on to found NCF with Greg. When I met Greg over a decade later, there was an immediate kinship and I enthusiastically agreed to join the Board. I am humbled and grateful to now have the opportunity to partner with Greg and all the NCF family for the next chapter of our story. 

I trust that the Lord has and will equip me for this next chapter. Our growth opportunities present us with new challenges regarding financing, space needs, and student and faculty recruitment, to name a few. My prayer is that the Lord will use the experience he has given me as a teacher, CEO, founder, and business owner to help guide us through this next chapter. My great confidence is in our God, who has already written this and every subsequent chapter for New College. 

I am truly grateful for this opportunity and excited to get to work. I look forward to getting to know you and thank you for all the support you have given New College. Let us pray expectantly together for the Lord’s continued blessing!

In Christ,

Andy Patton