Humans of NGU: Nathan Finn
Grace Turner, Contributing Writer
From kindergarten to PhD and beyond, Nathan Finn is committed to the classroom with a love for students and the topics that are shaping the world.
Finn, a former provost of North Greenville University, now finds himself back in the classroom. He is living in an answered prayer.
“From ages 5 to 28,” Finn said “this has always been my world.”
From the day he started kindergarten to receiving a PhD, Finn only spent one semester where he wasn’t a student. He wasn’t far gone, however, as he found himself still working for the college that semester.
Finn has loved the world of Christian higher education since he was 20 years old and has never left. Every full-time job he has held since his college graduation has been in an academic institution.
Finn became the provost of NGU in 2018, a position he held for five years.
“With the exception of Covid and budgets and firing people and student discipline, I liked most of it,” Finn said.
Finn said he loved the opportunity to shepherd the faculty, but as time went on, he missed the classroom more and more.
Over his eight years in academic leadership, from Union University to NGU, Finn only taught 11 classes.
“That’s just not enough for somebody who felt called to be a teacher,” said Finn.
After four years, Finn approached President Gene Fant with a question. Prepared to leave if need be, Finn proposed that after completing his fifth year as provost, he step back into the classroom.
Fortunately for Finn, Fant agreed, and the two began dreaming about the future. Finn is now over the Institute for Faith and Culture, and can be found teaching honors courses, graduate courses, and a Christian studies course this spring, as well as directing the Master of Arts and Leadership. Finn’s role at NGU is unique to him. It is built piece by piece with the things he loves.
Finn now blesses students with his calling by adopting specific groups on campus. In the past two years those groups have been the women’s volleyball team and the theatre department. Finn and his family show love for students by having them over for meals in their home.
“I firmly believe that God has designed each of us to do certain things,” said Finn. “I was a competent administrator, but God has called me to be a teacher.”
