Thomas Wolfe Named IAMSCU President

A recent meeting of the International Association of Methodist-related Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU) Board of Directors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, included a transition of leadership. With a change in Dr. Marcio de Moraes’ university affiliation (now immediate past president of IAMSCU), the board elected Rev. Dr. Tom Wolfe, president and chief executive officer of Iliff School of Theology, as the acting president of the organization. Wolfe is a former member of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s (GBHEM) board of directors, past University Senate president, and was the IAMSCU vice president.  

The IAMSCU Board of Directors issued the following press release: 

In its annual meeting this month in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Board of Directors of the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU) installed Rev. Dr. Thomas V. Wolfe as IAMSCU acting president. Wolfe currently serves as president and chief executive officer of United Methodist-related Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.

This mid-term appointment was occasioned by the resignation of the former president, Dr. Marcio de Moraes, of Brazil. Wolfe had been serving as IAMSCU vice president. Under the organization’s bylaws, the vice president succeeds the president if the president resigns before his/her term has expired. Wolfe, therefore, will serve out the incomplete term.

This mid-term appointment was occasioned by the resignation of the former president, Dr. Marcio de Moraes, of Brazil. Wolfe had been serving as IAMSCU vice president. Under the organization’s bylaws, the vice president succeeds the president if the president resigns before his/her term has expired. Wolfe, therefore, will serve out the incomplete term.

IAMSCU has in its membership more than 1,000 affiliated educational institutions in the Methodist tradition in 80 countries spread over five continents.  It represents a connection of more than 80 million Methodist-related communities worldwide.

The organization is supported by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church.

“Dr. de Moraes had done a fine job, and we really hated to lose him, but sometimes circumstances change and other changes have to be made,” said Rev. Dr. Kim Cape, GBHEM’s general secretary.  “Happily, he will remain on the board of directors as immediate past president.”

Amos Nascimento, Ph.D., associate general secretary for Global Education and New Initiatives and IAMSCU’s secretary-treasurer, added, “We have known Dr. Wolfe for quite some time, particularly for the great work he did as president of the University Senate of The United Methodist Church, so we look forward to continuing to work with him, this time in an international role.”

“I am excited by the possibilities I see for IAMSCU, and I am both honored and humbled by this responsibility,” Wolfe said.  “I am pleased by the direction of IAMSCU.  I look forward to being part of its movement forward.”

Other actions taken by the IAMSCU Board of Directors included planning for next year’s board of directors meeting, initiating planning for the triennial IAMSCU meeting scheduled for 2020, receiving regional reports from the membership, reviewing the organization’s financial status and discussing the plans and activities for the next three years.

For more information about IAMSCU and GBHEM’s global education initiatives, visit www.gbhem.org. 

About IAMSCU: Founded in 1991, IAMSCU recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Established at the World Methodist Conference in Singapore, 21 institutions from around the world initially joined together. Today, IAMSCU includes 1,042 education institutional affiliates in more than 80 countries. The structure of the organization consists of the assembly, board of directors and executive officers (president, vice president and secretary/treasurer). The board of directors is composed of members from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. The IAMSCU Board of Directors meets annually, and elections for new officers are held every three years.

About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to build capacity for United Methodist lay and clergy leaders to discover, claim and flourish in Christ’s calling in their lives, by creating connections and providing resources to aid in recruitment, education, professional development and spiritual formation. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call in their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.