[1]Mark Howell elected as Northeastern Baptist College’s second president
By NBC Staff
BENNINGTON, Vt. – The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Baptist College is pleased to announce the unanimous election of Mark Howell to serve as the institution’s second president, effective immediately.
Howell succeeds Mark Ballard, the school’s founding president, who now continues in the role of chancellor. Under Ballard’s leadership, the college has been firmly established with a clear mission to equip students for Gospel ministry and Christian leadership.
“I could not be more pleased to know that Dr. Howell now serves as the President of Northeastern Baptist College,” said Ballard. “I am confident that Dr. Howell will lead the college to its greatest days! My prayers, love, and appreciation for Dr. Howell and First Lady, Carmen Howell will remain at the forefront of my heart and mind.”
The Board expresses its deep gratitude for Ballard’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the college’s mission and looks forward with great anticipation to Howell’s presidency.
“As a young boy growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I never could have imagined that God would one day open the door for me to return to the Northeast in this capacity,” said Howell. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as President of Northeastern Baptist College and to invest in the next generation of leaders.”
Northeastern Baptist College remains committed to the work the Lord is doing throughout the Northeast – raising up faithful pastors, church planters and Christian leaders who are prepared to proclaim the Gospel and serve with conviction and compassion. The future is bright as the college continues its mission to train the next generation for Christ-centered ministry and to advance the Kingdom of God across the region and beyond.
[2]MBTS launches new graduate concentrations
By Jonathan Lumley/MBTS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Midwestern Seminary is pleased to announce the introduction of new concentrations within its Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) [3] and Doctor of Educational Ministry (D.Ed.Min.) [4] programs, designed to better serve the growing needs of ministry leaders and Christian educators.
The new offerings include a concentration in ministry to women within the D.Ed.Min. program, as well as two concentrations within the Ed.D.: higher education administration and curriculum, design, and learning development. These concentrations provide focused pathways that combine world-class academic training with real-world ministry application, preparing graduates to advance Christian education in a variety of settings.
“I am grateful that we have expanded our concentrations in our Ed.D. and D.Ed.Min. programs,” said President Jason Allen. “In our ever-changing world, we need more competently trained men and women, not less. I am hopeful that these new concentrations will give even more competency to those who are leaders in the field of education.”
Understanding the Degrees
The D.Ed.Min. is a professional doctoral degree designed for those serving in local church contexts who want to strengthen their leadership in educational ministry and practice. The Ed.D. equips students for advanced work in educational leadership, including roles in higher education and more research-focused settings.
Thor Madsen, dean of doctoral studies and professor of New Testament, ethics, and philosophy, explained that the new concentrations more clearly distinguish the D.Ed.Min. from the Ed.D., sharpening the focus of each degree. He added that the Ed.D. now also includes a research-based option, expanding its academic scope and creating a pathway for more advanced scholarly work.
“In many instances, the ideal applicant will be someone now working in a higher educational setting who is searching for professional development opportunities,” Madsen said.
He added that the new concentrations allow students to pursue more focused coursework and research, equipping them with training that directly supports their ministry context and long-term goals.
A New D.Ed.Min. Concentration
The D.Ed.Min. now includes a concentration in ministry to women, which allows students to prepare for more specialized service in the local church context. Leslie Umstattd, associate professor of Christian Education and Ministry to Women, explained that “a student could combine their passions for education and ministry to women under this concentration.”
Under this new concentration, students will be equipped for specialized service in local churches, particularly in areas such as curriculum design, leadership, and the organization of educational ministries directed toward women.
Two New Ed.D. Concentrations
Within the Ed.D., the two new concentrations offer distinct pathways for students based on their vocational goals. The higher education administration concentration allows students to address specific educational challenges with practical solutions, while the curriculum, design, and learning development concentration provides a research-focused option more in line with the Ph.D. format.
According to Umstattd, “the aim of this concentration allows students to analyze in-depth areas within the field of education through the lens of a research question.”
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