Alex Bryan Named Next Walla Walla University President

On Monday, May 6, the Walla Walla University Board of Trustees unanimously elected Alex Bryan to become the 24th president of the university, located in College Place, Washington, United States.

“We are excited that Dr. Bryan accepted our invitation to serve as Walla Walla University president,” said John Freedman, chair of the Board of Trustees and president of the North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “He has a deep love for and walk with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, which will bless our university students, faculty, and staff. He is committed to our Seventh-day Adventist beliefs and mission, and I and our church members across the Pacific Northwest will lift him up in prayer as he takes this responsibility at Walla Walla University.”

For 13 years Bryan served as a pastor in Georgia and Tennessee before joining the Walla Walla University Church as senior pastor in 2009. In 2013, he became president of Kettering College in Ohio for one year, and then returned to Walla Walla University Church to serve as senior pastor another four years.

In 2018, Bryan joined Adventist Health in Roseville, California, where he now serves as senior vice president and chief mission officer, leading strategy and discourse about ethics, alignment to mission, spiritual care, relationship to faith communities, global mission, theological foundations of health care, and also overseeing philanthropy and grants initiatives.

Over the past 16 years, Bryan has served as adjunct professor teaching theology, business, communication, and honors studies at numerous Seventh-day Adventist universities. He has served as a member of the North American Division Executive Committee, the Upper Columbia Conference Executive Committee, Adventist Bioethics Consortium, SonBridge Community Center Board, Rogers Adventist School Board, and Walla Walla Valley Academy Board. He currently chairs the Walla Walla Valley Adventist Schools Board.

“I am honored to be called to serve such a special place, one that is dedicated to God and to His glory and to His purposes in the world,” Bryan said. “Our family has called College Place home for 15 years, and we’ve been deeply blessed by the peerless mission of Walla Walla University and its people. I believe that the Christ-centered university is the hope of the world, and we are excited to contribute to this bold venture.”

Bryan earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and religion from Southern Adventist University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, a Doctor of Ministry degree from George Fox University, and a Master of Science degree in bioethics from Albany Medical College.

His wife, Nicole, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from WWU, and while a student served as president of the Associated Students of Walla Walla University. She holds a master’s degree in education from Georgia State University and works in the Health and Physical Education Department at WWU. The couple have two children.

Bryan will begin his term on July 1, 2024. He will replace John McVay, who is retiring after serving as WWU president for 18 years.

The original version of this release was posted on the Walla Walla University news site.