Board of Trustees Chair Transition: Dr. Shirley Mullen Steps Down; Jody Vanderwel Elected to the Role

Fuller Theological Seminary today announced the resignation of Dr. Shirley A. Mullen as chair of the Board of Trustees and the election of longtime trustee Jody Vanderwel to serve as the seminary’s next board chair, effective at the close of the January 27, 2026, board meeting.

Following a careful process of prayerful discernment, Dr. Mullen concluded that this was the appropriate moment to step down from the role of chair, to which she was elected by the board in October 2024. She will also be stepping down from the board. Her decision reflects both her deep love for Fuller Seminary and her conviction that this is a season for the board to be served by a fresh voice for the strategic and generative work ahead. Over the past years, she has provided steady, courageous leadership during a season of complexity related to institutional structures and theological commitments, issues that are commanding the attention of Christian institutions of higher education across the country. Her leadership has been marked by intellectual rigor and a tireless commitment to Fuller’s enduring mission of theological orthodoxy, sound scholarship, cultural engagement, and service to the global church.

“It has been one of the most energizing and meaningful chapters of my four decades in Christian higher education,” Mullen said. “I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside such devoted trustees and leaders, and I remain deeply committed to Fuller’s mission and future.”

Fuller Seminary has benefited from Mullen’s distinguished career as an academic, administrator, and executive, including service at Bethel University, Westmont College, and Houghton College (now University), where she served as president from 2006 to 2021.

The board formally received Mullen’s resignation on January 27 and, following the recommendation of the Trustee Affairs Committee, elected trustee Jody Vanderwel as the seminary’s next board chair. Ms. Vanderwel will assume the office immediately and will serve the remainder of the unexpired term, which concludes at the October 2027 board meeting.

Vanderwel has served as a Fuller trustee since 2004 and brings more than two decades of deep institutional knowledge, proven leadership, and missional commitment to the chair role. She has served with distinction across numerous dimensions of the seminary’s life, including as chair of the Mission Advancement Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee, Presidential Search Committee, Transforming Hope Campaign Steering Committee, the Fuller Foundation Board, and the DePree Church Leadership Institute Board. Beyond Fuller, Vanderwel currently serves as board chair of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Michigan and as a board member of Baker Publishing. An attorney by training, she previously served as corporate counsel for Herman Miller and is widely respected for her ability to lead complex conversations with clarity, wisdom, and grace.

“It has been a tremendous joy and privilege to serve on the board these many years and to witness the countless ways God has been at work through Fuller,” said Vanderwel. “I am both humbled and honored to step into the role of chair, as we continue the important work of forming Christian leaders who carry the good news of Christ throughout the church and world.”

The board expressed its deep gratitude to Mullen for her sacrificial leadership during her time as chair, and its utmost confidence in Vanderwel as the ideal person to carry on the work, with her ability to provide continuity, steadiness, and forward-looking vision. Mullen has also offered her strong support for the new chair and her commitment to work toward a seamless transition. While she did not seek the role, Vanderwel has affirmed her willingness to serve, sensing God’s call to step forward in this crucial season.

“We give thanks for Shirley Mullen’s extraordinary service and faithful stewardship. She has been a fountain of wisdom, a wise counselor, and an effective partner in leadership,” said Fuller President David Emmanuel Goatley. “And we are equally grateful for Jody Vanderwel’s willingness to lead the board at this important moment in Fuller’s life. Her commitment, character, and competence will serve us well as we look to the future with hope and trust in the presence, power, and provision of the Lord through Fuller Seminary.”