NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 22, 2016 – Neil Blair has been named president of Saint Paul School of Theology. He has served as the executive director for Institutional Advancement at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) since 2013, and is a 1980 Master of Divinity graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology. He will begin his leadership on July 1, 2016.

“We are grateful for Neil’s leadership within GBHEM and we look forward to our continued relationship in his new role. I know Rev. Blair is deeply committed to quality theological education and is a great choice for Saint Paul,” said Rev. Dr. Kim Cape, general secretary, GBHEM.

Blair returns to the seminary with a combination of passion for Wesleyan evangelism, knowledge of The United Methodist Church and a variety of development leadership experiences.
"We are fortunate that Neil Blair has agreed to provide leadership to Saint Paul during this time. Neil has a long and fruitful history with Saint Paul. He brings with him knowledge and love of the seminary as well as a strong understanding of the church and theological education’s special role in the life and vitality of the church,” said Saint Paul Board Chair Twila Glenn.

Previously, Blair was the president of The Foundation for Evangelism of the UMC in Lake Junaluska, N.C. and vice president for Institutional Advancement at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D. Additionally, he served 19 years as vice president for Development at Saint Paul School of Theology.

Blair is an ordained elder in the Dakotas Annual Conference and served eight years in a local church in Missouri. He has two grown sons. David, his wife, Jennifer and their daughter Gracie, live just outside of Ft. Worth, TX in Aledo. Ben, Pamela, and newborn daughter, Vera Foster Blair, born June 7th, live in Chicago.

Photo: Rev. Neil Blair, elder of the Dakotas Conference. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Conference Communications.