To Be Rather Than To Seem: How President Dan Boone Strengthened Trevecca’s Unique Identity

With more than two decades as president behind him, Dan Boone has been at Trevecca’s helm through some of the harshest storms the University has weathered. He has led with courage and wisdom through economic uncertainty, political instability, a pandemic and the rapid rise of social media and artificial intelligence.

By fighting to maintain Trevecca’s identity—and embracing the University motto “Esse Quam Videri,” “to be rather than to seem”—he has propelled its expansion and influence.

“So many institutions try to appeal to different political parties or shift according to the audience, but Trevecca’s identity is rooted in Nazarene and Wesleyan theology, so we choose what’s called the ‘via media,’ the middle way,” Boone said. “We have not changed who we are over the years, so we can talk to people who are conservative and those who are liberal with the strength of a community that prioritizes charitable discourse.”

Long before his presidency, Boone embraced his calling as a pastor. He served Nazarene churches in Mississippi, North Carolina and Kansas as well as churches on the campuses of Trevecca and Olivet Nazarene University. His heart for ministry and college students prepared him for university leadership years before he began his tenure.

After 20 years shepherding churches, Boone received an unexpected call inviting him to submit his resume for Trevecca president, and his call to ministry took on a different form.

“The search committee said: ‘Your name has been given to us by multiple people. We’d love for you to send a resume.’ And I replied, ‘What would make you think that I’d ever want to do that?’” Boone laughed.

Along with his wife, Denise, he began to seriously consider the possibility, knowing that their prior experiences in ministry and as Trevecca alumni (they both graduated in 1974) would allow them to contribute a unique perspective and skill set. After one interview, Boone was appointed president and began his term in July 2005.

As he reflects on the years that followed, he is adamant that it is the students who have always been his joy and his priority.

“The ones that have given me trouble over the years would probably fit in a Volkswagen bus; it is not many,” Boone said with a smile. “We have loved all our students, even the ornery ones, and I’m very proud to see the good work our graduates are doing in the world.”

His work with undocumented students in particular has served as one of his most meaningful achievements and a key part of his legacy.

“This is a group of students who are so hard-working and appreciative. We’ve had the honor to serve them and their families,” Boone recalled. “It’s amazing to see them graduate and go on to Harvard, Yale, schools of theology, careers in medicine and other significant roles. We were the school that gave them the chance that nobody else would.”

That was a substantial accomplishment during the years when funding was scarce and Trevecca had to partner with local organizations like Equal Chance Education to create scholarships so that all students had an opportunity to follow their dreams.

Along the same lines, Boone fought to honor the “to be rather than to seem” mantra as he defended Trevecca students in the face of controversy. When a gubernatorial candidate wanted to host an on-campus event featuring a speaker who expressed hatred towards Muslims, Boone said no, despite some negative press that his decision caused.

“We acted as a good neighbor, and the appreciation we received from the Muslim community was significant. They came as a group and asked why I had done that and I said, ‘We have Muslim students on our campus and this is not the way Christians treat people.’ We sat for an hour and I talked to them about Jesus. It was a decision that positioned Trevecca to boldly say to the people of Nashville: ‘We may not agree about everything, but we’re going to treat you as a neighbor, and that’s who we are.’”

Honoring Trevecca’s mission, he is also looking ahead to what it will take for students to thrive on the Hill for many years to come. Currently, Boone’s most significant concern is artificial intelligence, which is transforming college life with alarming speed. He recognizes that current students are faced with obstacles like no generation before them.

“Human beings are not wired for this kind of pace and speed. We are throwing the next generation into an ocean of information, and they’re dog paddling for their lives and trying to find a place to stand,” Boone said. “Trevecca has to figure out a way to not just give information but to give wisdom. We need to ask, ‘How do we keep forming healthy, holistic human beings in a world that is trying to turn them into machines?’”

Boone will retire in July 2027, after seeing the University through its 125th anniversary year. He admits the load he has carried has been heavy at times. In addition to the external challenges in the world around him, he has faced two cancer diagnoses and overseen significant growth in campus infrastructure and the size of the student body.

After spending more than 20 years cementing Trevecca’s identity, he can now confidently step away to reclaim his own.

“I need to walk away from the helm and figure out who I am outside of being president. I want to get my feet on the ground and remember who I am as a preacher of God,” Boone said with optimism. “In Scripture, the Sabbath law insisted that God’s people rest every seven days, so they can remember that they are beloved children of the living God, and that is where my identity is found.”