Leadership

Our theological seminary does not exist for its own sake, but exists rather to serve and resource the church of Jesus Christ."

President Dr. Rupert A. Hayles Jr.

With more than three decades of experience in strategic, operational, and general management, and Christian higher education, Hayles joins Roberts Wesleyan and Northeastern Seminary from New Jersey’s Pillar College, a private evangelical Christian institution where he served in various roles since 2019, including chief operating officer, executive vice president and most recently as president for the past two years.

Prior to his time in Christian higher education, Hayles served in the United States Air Force as an officer before transitioning to the private sector to support organizations with strategic management, executive coaching, and advancement for more than 25 years.

He worked with organizations such as Cytec Industries, Prudential Financial, and Merck Pharmaceutical. Outside of academia, Hayles fostered his calling to Christianity through community and engagement as a chief operating officer of Christ Church (10,000 parishioners) and executive pastor of Life Christian Church (3,500 parishioners), both in New Jersey.

Hayles is also the co-founder and chairman of Organization and People Dynamics Inc., an organizational consultancy that focuses on emotional and leadership development under the auspices of The Center for Emotional Development and the Center for Emotional & Spiritual Development. These organizations are dedicated to serving for-purpose organizations and leaders in the areas of culture and climate adjustment, emotional intelligence, transition management, team development, and strategic planning and execution.

It was the consensus of the search committee, given these strong areas of focus, that Hayles’ commitment to Christian higher education and his background in organizational management, people development, ministerial work, and strategic leadership have prepared him well for the presidential role at Roberts Wesleyan and Northeastern Seminary.

Dr. Sykora’s earned degrees include a Ph.D. from Durham University in the United Kingdom; M.A. in biblical studies and M.A. in theological studies from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky; and a Master in Law from Masaryk University in Brno, the Czech Republic. Dr. Sykora’s doctoral research focused on the topic of election in the Bible. In particular, he was trying to see what the Old Testament says about God’s favor for certain individuals and groups, and what this means for those who are unfavored. Dr. Sykora has served in senior and assistant pastoral roles in Bratislava, Slovakia, and as a missionary responsible for theological training.

Josef Sykora, PhD