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.
Board of Trustees
Guy Adams
President of HigherEd Solutions, Granite Bay, CA
Chief Diversity Officer, Cayuga Health Systems, Ithaca, NY
Janet L. Balajthy
Senior Advisor and Consultant, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
Pamela H. J. Braman
Superintendent, Genesis Conference Free Methodist Church USA
Rhonda K. Devan
CPA, Rasberry-Devan Consulting, Swannanoa NC
Melanie J. French
CPA, PC, Melanie French CPA, Buffalo, NY
Emerson U. Fullwood
Corporate Vice President, retired, Xerox
Ramona Graham
Registered Nurse, retired
Julia P. Grimm
Dean, School of Natural & Social Sciences, Retired, Byron, NY
Timothy R. Harner
Chief Legal Officer, Retired, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc
Holly M. Hillberg
Executive Leadership Consultant
Rochester, NY
Paul A. Lysander '85
Cloud Solutions Architect, VMware Darrington, WA
Kevin W. Mannoia
Pastoral Coach & Consultant, Upland, CA
Justin Niebel '06
Manager, TSC-Data and Security-Vertical
Charter Communications
Rochester, NY
Dwight M. (Kip) Palmer
CEO The Palmer Family of Companies Rochester, NY
Deborah K. Schmidt '79,
Partner, retired Toji Trading Group LLC New Buffalo, MI
Wesley R. Skinner, Jr.
Chairman of the Board, Manth-Brownell, Inc. Retired
Terry R. Taber
Chief Technical Officer, Senior Vice President, Advanced Materials & Chemicals
Trustees Emeriti:
Lorne W. Jackson (2013)
Leighan R. Rinker (2024)
David B. RInker (2024)
Sonnette Bascoe, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor to the President for University Culture
Reporting directly to the President, Dr. Sonnette Bascoe will provide strategic direction to the University's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, giving direct attention to the institution's policies, practices, structures, climate, and culture. Through the design and facilitation of diversity initiatives, services, and resources, they will support staff, faculty, and administrators in advancing diversity, equity, and belonging in all aspects of the campus.
Dr. Bascoe will work collaboratively with the President and campus leaders, guiding initiatives to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus environment for all constituents, with a particular focus on academic offerings and continued campus education and training.
Dr. Bascoe serves as Assistant Professor of Psychology and has served on the Roberts Wesleyan Academic Diversity Committee, Task Force for Diversity Education and Change (Chair), Racism in Enrollment Advisory Council, and the Resource Group for Race and Ethnicity (Co-Chair). Dr. Bascoe also founded the Roberts Wesleyan Undergraduate-Graduate BIPOC Mentor Program.