President John C. ReyndersMorningside College President John Reynders has announced his plans to retire effective June 30, 2021. Reynders was named Morningside’s 12^th president in 1999 and became the college’s longest-serving president in 2019. His presidency began as Morningside found itself at a crossroads, facing serious financial and enrollment pressures. The transformation during his two decades of leadership have rivaled any in Morningside’s history.

“My tenure at Morningside has been the best 21 years of my professional life,” said President John Reynders. “Morningside and Sioux City have been a wonderful home, but the timing is right for me and my wife, Robin, as well as for Morningside. I am making this announcement knowing great things lie ahead for this place, and that the Board of Directors will have plenty of time to secure a search firm that can help build a Presidential Search Committee, conduct a national search, and prepare for the leadership transition.”

“From the physical campus, to our enrollment, to the quality of our academic and athletic offerings, nearly every aspect of Morningside has been fortified over the last 21 years to position us for a bright future. There is a strong sense of community that permeates this campus. Our Board of Directors is deeply connected to our mission and the lives that have been changed by this place over the last 125 years. We are blessed to be located in a thriving and supportive community like Sioux City. We are confident in who we are, but we also know that innovation and change are vital to keeping Morningside strong,” President Reynders said. “It’s not in Morningside’s nature – or my nature – to coast. That driving spirit will not only help find the right next leader, but will keep us moving forward in my final 15 months as president. There is much work ahead, and I look forward to working with everyone at Morningside to accomplish it.”

Reynders at his inauguration taking part in Morningside’s traditional bean shower for the incoming president.“John Reynders arrived at a crucial time in Morningside’s history. The leadership he has provided has been nothing short of transformative. John and Robin have left deep roots that will continue to nurture Morningside for many years to come. They will be missed by our Board of Directors and the entire community, but because of them, we are confident in our ability to attract Morningside’s next leader,” said Morningside College Board of Directors Chairman Craig Struve. “The Board looks forward to assisting President Reynders in completing his vision for Morningside in his final 15 months as president, while also celebrating the remarkable tenure he and Robin have shared.”

When Reynders arrived in 1999, Morningside was faced with outdated facilities, declining enrollment, and years of deficit spending. Reynders worked tirelessly to strengthen the board and build a senior leadership team energized to take on these challenges. He brought new life to strategic planning and constructed a philosophy of “excellence in all things” that now permeates campus culture.

Almost every acre of the college’s campus has been systematically transformed over the last 20 years, including significant renovations to the Walker Science Center, the Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center, Olsen Student Center, Elwood Olsen Stadium, Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center, and Dimmitt Hall; construction of Hilker Campus Mall, Lags Hall, Poppen & Waitt Apartments, Buhler Rohlfs Hall, Krone Advising Center, Tom Rosen Field; and numerous other updates and projects.  Reynders at the groundbreaking of Morningside’s academic village, now home to Buhler Rohlfs Hall and the Krone Advising Center.

Academic offerings on campus were also refreshed. Under Reynders’ leadership, the Palmer Research Symposium and Summer Undergraduate Research Program were launched. Travel abroad and experiential learning opportunities grew exponentially. The Regina Roth Applied Agricultural & Food Studies program was added to academic offerings, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Morningside’s first doctoral award. Reynders also oversaw the implementation of the Thompson Staff Awards, the Walker Faculty Excellence Awards, and the Yockey Assessment Awards, helping to attract and retain high-quality faculty and staff.

Initially a controversial decision, a hallmark of Reynders tenure has been successfully transitioning Morningside Athletics from NCAA Division II to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The move resulted in an expansion from 12 varsity sports in 1999 to 28 varsity sports in 2020. It has also resulted in four national championships in women’s basketball, two football national championships, and numerous national championships for individual events in track, swimming, and wrestling. The connection to the NAIA has also made Morningside home to dozens of Champions of Character award winners at the local and national level.

Additional accomplishments that occurred under Reynders leadership include the two largest fundraising efforts in the college’s history, totaling more than $125 million; a peak enrollment of 2,902 full- and part-time students in 2016 – with the third largest freshman class in history arriving just last fall; an alumni giving rate that generally exceeds 20% and places Morningside among the best in the country; and an incredibly dedicated and engaged board of directors, senior leadership group, faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Most noticeable of all, though, are the strong bonds the Reynders have built within the Morningside community. 

Reynders at his annual photo with the children of Morningside faculty and staff 

“From hosting several dinners at their home every week, to his open-door policy, John and Robin have made Morningside a welcoming, wonderful place for students and everyone who is part of the Morningside and Siouxland communities,” said Struve. “The sense of family and pride that John and Robin have helped build at Morningside are a true testament to their legacy.”

A few of the projects Reynders plans to address in his final 15 months include fundraising to complete an entrance to campus, wayfinding signage, and welcome areas; retooling elements of Morningside’s Graduate Education program; and continuing to work with faculty to make experiential learning ubiquitous on campus.

The Morningside Board of Directors will immediately begin the process of selecting a firm to assist with the search process. It’s expected that a search firm will be retained by the Board of Directors this spring, then will work with the Board to build the Presidential Search Committee and develop the steps and timeline for the process over summer and into fall.

Struve anticipates that the Morningside College Board of Directors will announce the Presidential Search Committee later in 2020. The search will take place through 2020 and into 2021, when the Presidential Search Committee will likely make a recommendation to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will cast the final decision, with the announcement of Morningside’s next leader expected in sometime in the first half of 2021.

The estimated start date for the new president is July 1, 2021. Once the search is officially launched, regular updates will be available via morningside.edu.

For more information on President John Reynders, please visit here.  

Media contact: Erin Edlund, Vice President for Marketing & Communication, edlunde@morningside.edu, 712-274-5411

Reynders at a 2012 alumni event; throughout his tenure, Reynders has made alumni, friends, and relationship-building a priority

John and Robin Reynders at the NAIA Football National Championship.