North Greenville’s newly-elected president brings a message of change
John Peardon, Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of NGU Marketing and Communications Department.
As Gene Fant gets ready to take over as the new president of North Greenville University, he decided to take some time to discuss his career with The Vision and how he wants North Greenville to impact the world.
Since an early age, Fant said he felt a calling to the world of academics. “Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always wanted to be a college professor,” he said. “Even in second grade, I wrote an essay about wanting to be a college professor.”
He began his career in the academic world after graduating with his first doctorate degree and said having good mentors helped him in beginning his career.
Fant said, “As I would move into positions, I was blessed with mentors who helped to prepare me for whatever came next.”
As he takes over the North Greenville presidency this year, his desire is to make sure the university is better promoted. “It’s a very solid institution, but in many ways it’s a well-kept secret. My hope is to see that more people know about the university,” Fant said.
He also wants students to be inspired after they graduate from North Greenville, to take the message of the gospel throughout the world. “We want people to be excited about what God is doing there,” he said. “We also want people to know that they go can anywhere in the world and spread the message of Jesus Christ.”
When asked about possible changes he would like to make to the school, Fant emphasized the importance of not making multiple changes too fast. “It is wise to come in and really check out everything about the institution, and find out how it works,” he said. “I want to look at academic programs, and life and community, and see if there are opportunities to enhance the community life [here].”
Fant also believes that the university must continue to live up to its slogan: “Where Christ Makes the Difference.” Fant said, “We must be able to answer the question: ‘What is the difference that Christ makes?’ In academics, we must learn to think like Christ does.”
