Doug Van Nest

Rev. Dr. Doug Van Nest is the Assistant Director of Advanced Degrees and Field Education. Previously, he served as the dean of the School of Christian Ministry and Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, he spent 20 years in pastoral ministry and nearly a decade as a district superintendent prior to his time in higher education. While his primary avenue of ministry in recent years has been education, he has also continued to serve local churches through interim pastorates and pulpit supply.

Doug has taught preaching, worship, and pastoral care, but his primary area of interest is spiritual formation. He finds joy in helping others discover and develop formative practices in their own spiritual journey. He’s also a lover of the mountains, taking walks, reading, hot peppers, and good BBQ.

Doug and his wife, Lisa, have two adult sons and a spoiled black lab.