Dr. Tom Barnard

Dr. Tom Barnard is a native Californian, born in Glendale, California. He is married to the former Madelyn Newcomer of Phoenix, Arizona. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. Their son, Bruce, pastors in Warwick Valley, New York. Their daughter, Gaylene, sells real estate in the Dallas, Texas area. One granddaughter, Elizabeth, is a recent graduate of Eastern Nazarene College. A second granddaughter, Lyn, is a junior at Texas Christian University. Their grandson is a freshman at Eastern Nazarene College.

Following graduation from high school and a year in college, Tom served in the United States Air Force for four years during the Korean War. After his service in the military, he resumed studies at Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University) and later at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Following six years in ministry, Tom accepted a position on the faculty of Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University). He taught in the division of religion and philosophy for sixteen years. For the last ten years of his tenure, he also served as vice president for student affairs.

He completed a second master’s degree (from SNU) and a doctorate at Oklahoma State University in higher education administration. In 1982 he accepted an administrative position at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts, where he served until his retirement in 2001. At Eastern he held three different vice presidential posts: vice president for student development; vice president for institutional advancement; and vice president for church and constituency relations. During his final eleven years at ENC he was responsible for raising over $2-million dollars a year in unrestricted funds for the college from churches, foundations, and alumni and friends of the college.

Both Point Loma Nazarene University and Southern Nazarene University conferred on him the highest honors those institutions grant to their alumni—the Alumni Association Heritage Awards.

He is an avid writer and teacher. He teaches an adult class at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene Church. He also edits two weekly newsletters for persons in Christian leadership roles. His free publication is sent electronically to over two thousand recipients each week. He and his wife, Madelyn, are serious collectors of antiques. Tom restores antique lighting devices, and Madelyn collects all things Christmas. Their home was featured at the 2003 Christmas Tour of Homes sponsored by the Northwest Chamber of Commerce in Oklahoma City.