Cal Lutheran Names Dr. John A. Nunes as Ninth President
The Board of Regents of California Lutheran University announces the appointment of Dr. John A. Nunes as the university’s ninth president. Nunes has been serving as the university’s interim president since June 1, 2024 and assumes his new role June 1, 2025. He is a former president of Concordia College New York.
“Dr. Nunes has demonstrated his commitment to Cal Lutheran’s mission and our students every single day since his appointment as interim president, and the Board is excited to have him join us on a longer-term basis,” said Chair of the Board of Regents Ann Boynton ‘83. “This is a challenging time for higher education, and the need for committed leadership has never been greater.”
During his interim tenure, Nunes actively engaged with students, faculty, alumni, and community partners — championing efforts to renew the university's strategic vision while honoring its roots in the Lutheran educational tradition.
“I am blessed to continue serving in this community of creativity and inclusivity, at an institution built by pioneering, persevering people of faith,” Nunes remarked. “Even in this arduous higher ed environment, the faculty and staff of Cal Lutheran are brilliantly resilient for the sake of our students. We are committed to being a place where dreams take flight.”
Nunes is a widely respected scholar and nonprofit executive with over three decades of leadership experience. Since 2020, he has served on the Council of Independent Colleges’ Campus Free Expression Project helping institutions navigate the complexities of intellectual engagement in a polarized era. He is also a senior fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy.
“One individual cannot single-handedly implement the changes we need to meet the challenges ahead, but Dr. Nunes' beliefs, experience, vision, focus on transparency and collaboration are the bases we need to lead Cal Lutheran forward,” Boynton said. “He brings together a unique set of skills that encompasses higher education leadership, deep commitment to Lutheran faith and education, fundraising, and attentive listening, and focuses these talents on advancing our mission and students.”
Previously, Nunes was president and CEO of Lutheran World Relief, where he led global poverty alleviation and sustainable development efforts. His fundraising was instrumental in securing transformational leadership gifts for the Lutheran World Relief’s $45 million Lutheran Malaria Initiative. He held the Emil and Elfriede Jochum Chair at Valparaiso University and is the author of five books and numerous scholarly articles.
A proud Jamaican-born, Canadian-raised immigrant, Nunes earned his BA from Concordia College Ann Arbor, MDiv from Concordia Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario, and a ThM and PhD from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
Nunes and his wife, Monique, are proud parents of 6 children and grandparents to 13 and bring a spirit of vibrancy, hospitality, and unwavering commitment to the Cal Lutheran community.