Point Loma Nazarene University held an inauguration ceremony for President Kerry Fulcher on Feb. 14, celebrating the university’s 15th president and kicking off Homecoming weekend. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and PLNU board members attended the ceremony, where Fulcher’s presidency was affirmed by university and Nazarene leadership. After his official induction to the office of the president and speeches from former presidents Bob Brower and Jim Bond, Fulcher addressed the audience and spoke about the university’s history and his hopes for the future.
Resident directors, Wellness Center staff, student leaders and many members of the PLNU community gathered in Brown Chapel on the university’s main campus to witness the official transition, although Fulcher has been executing his role as university president since Aug. 15, 2024.
“By God’s grace and the help of this community, I will strive to steward the responsibilities with wisdom, care and a servant’s heart as we continue this journey together,” Fulcher said in his speech.
As he addressed the crowd, Fulcher spoke of PLNU’s long standing faithfulness to the Christian mission, even amid “cultural shifts” and a rapidly changing higher education system.
“These challenges also bring opportunities. Opportunities to defend our theological roots, sharpen our intellectual engagement and renew our commitment to the gospel’s transformative power,” Fulcher said in his speech.
Kayleigh Bajarin, a fourth-year environmental science major, attended the inauguration ceremony along with Arwen Martin, a fourth-year biology major and one of the Homecoming Rising Alumni awardees.
“I think it’s cool that this is something that hasn’t happened in 27 years, and we’re here while it’s happening, so I think it’s cool that we get to be here,” Bajarin said.
During the ceremony, Brower recited a prayer for Fulcher, and Bond anointed him with oil after reading Bible verses from 1 Samuel chapter 16 describing King David’s anointing.
“It was special to have Dr. Bond there; he’s the one who hired me, and that anointing was just amazing,” Fulcher said. “It was also special to have Dr. Brower there, and for him to give that prayer.”
Fulcher said he tried to focus on the university’s history during his speech. In particular, he spoke about Phineas F. Bresee, the university’s founder, and how Bresee has inspired him.
Brower said that he was pleased with the university and proud to be a part of this day.
“During the opportunity to hold the presidential medallion and to realize that every president since Bresee, including Bresee, is on there, I was reminded of God’s great faithfulness across all of these years,” Brower said. “Being able, with Dr. Bond, to participate in placing that on Dr. Fulcher was more than just symbolically important, because for me, it was a sense of God’s continuing presence.”
For Brower, Fulcher’s speech was a reminder of why PLNU exists as a university.
“It was a good day, a really blessed day for all of us,” Brower said. “And like I said in my prayer, it is ultimately about the students first. Students, faculty, staff, all of us joined together to help you all prepare to make a difference.”
Representing the student body, ASB President Colby Douglas stood on stage and verbally affirmed Fulcher’s presidency alongside representatives from the local San Diego community, PLNU staff, faculty, president’s cabinet, the church of the Nazarene and the Board of General Superintendents.
“It’s hard to put into words the feeling and the grandiose nature of it all,” Douglas said. “It’s such an honor [to be a part of]. I think the last time this happened was 27 years ago, so it’s just an absurd honor that I am humbled to be able to do.”
27 years ago was the start of former President Brower’s presidency, where an inauguration ceremony was held at the Greek Amphitheater. His wife, Linda Brower, described the sunny April day with fondness, saying that someone decided on their own accord to fly a plane over the cliffs that the Greek overlooks, pulling a banner in commemoration of the occasion.
For Fulcher, the day consisted of a ceremony, reception, concert in the Greek and an encore of dessert and beverages in the Nicholson Commons Main Dining Room.
In his speech, Fulcher described a moment he was sitting in Brown Chapel when he and his wife, Robyn, visited PLNU for his initial interview for professor of biology, which he began in 1994.
“I don’t remember the message, but what I do remember is hearing God’s voice say: ‘This is where I want you to be.’ And Robyn later heard that same calling,” Fulcher said. “In obedience, we started our 31-year journey here in this incredible community that has challenged us, that has shaped us and that has supported us in our calling here at PLNU.”
Emily Jones 
Tessa Balc