Newbold College Board Appoints Dan Serb as Principal

Dan Serb has been appointed principal of Newbold College of Higher Education (NCHE), following a vote at the College Board meeting on May 18. He succeeds Stephen Currow, who is returning to Australia after a four-year secondment from Avondale University. Serb has served as vice principal at Newbold for nearly a year. His appointment was confirmed by the Trans-European Division (TED) Executive Committee at its Spring Meeting on May 19.

Reflecting on his appointment, Serb said he was honoured to continue serving at Newbold in the role of principal. “It is a great privilege,” he noted, “and I am humbled by the trust placed in me by the College Board and the Trans-European Division leadership.”

What gives him courage to step into the role, he said, is “Newbold’s history and legacy, its dedicated and professional team, and God’s leading and provision for this institution.” He also expressed deep gratitude to Currow for his “support and guidance over the last year.”

Looking ahead, Serb envisions a Newbold that continues to “excel in training committed and biblically grounded Adventist pastors and theologians,” while broadening its definition of ministry. “This will be done through new programs and the soon-to-be-launched eLearning platform,” he explained, “meant to serve the [Adventist] Church and the wider community.” He concluded with an invitation: “Engage with us and have the Newbold experience.”

The Journey to Newbold

A native of Romania, Serb began his undergraduate studies in 1992 at the Adventus University Cernica before transferring to Helderberg College, South Africa, where he graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in Theology. He went on to earn a Master of Social Science in Religion and Globalization from the University of Cape Town in South Africa in 2005. In 2022 he completed a Doctor of Ministry in multicultural and multiethnic ministry at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, and in 2024 was awarded a Ph.D. in Religious Studies, with a special focus on human rights, from the University of South Africa.

Following his graduation in 1997, Serb was immediately called to serve as a pastor in the Cape Conference in South Africa, where he oversaw 11 churches with a combined membership of more than 2,000 until 2006. His dedication to pastoral ministry and academic development laid a strong foundation for future work in cross-cultural contexts.

A new chapter began in 2013 when Serb accepted a call to provide pastoral leadership to two diverse, multiethnic Irish Mission congregations in Dublin. Within months of his arrival he focused his ministry on the complex identity challenges facing second-generation Gen Z youth, conducting in-depth research into their cultural, ethnic, religious, and social struggles.

From 2016 to 2024 Serb served as president of the Irish Mission, which covers both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. As he built on the Dublin City of Hope strategic evangelism initiative (2013-2015), his leadership significantly expanded the region’s reach and impact. Under his direction, the pastoral team grew, new ministries emerged, and previously unreached areas became home to Adventist communities. The mission is now progressing toward conference status.

Serb is married to Oana, and together they have three children: Emma, Emilio, and Ayana.

[Videographer: Leonard Oguntade]

A Confident Welcome 

Welcoming Serb as the new principal, Daniel Duda, board chair and president of TED, expressed his confidence in Serb’s appointment. “On behalf of the wider community of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Dan Serb on his appointment as principal of Newbold College of Higher Education.” He added, “Newbold plays a vital and unique role in shaping future leaders, pastors, scholars, and servants of the global church. This appointment comes at a time of both great opportunity and meaningful responsibility. I am confident that Dan’s vision, dedication, and willingness to listen and empower all people on the Newbold campus will guide Newbold College into a vibrant and impactful future. Our support and prayers are with him, the senior leadership team, and all employees as they embark on a new and inspiring future.”

A Confident Transition

Marking this significant transition, outgoing principal Stephen Currow welcomed his successor with warm words of affirmation. “I congratulate Dr. Dan Serb on his appointment as the next principal of Newbold,” Currow said. “It has been a pleasure working with him over the past year in his role as vice principal. During this time he has shown strong administrative abilities and excellent interpersonal skills, while also gaining valuable insight into UK higher education from within. I wish Dan God’s richest blessings as he takes on this new responsibility, and look forward to seeing Newbold continue fulfilling its mission within the Trans-European Division.”

The original version of this story was posted on the Trans-European Division news site.