Joel K. Pearsall

Joel Pearsall brings significant professional experience and personal commitment to Northwest Nazarene University as the 13th president. He came to NNU in 1999 after being in private legal practice and church administration. He is a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene and has a family legacy of serving Nazarene higher education.

Joel earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene College in 1980 and his Juris Doctor from Willamette University College of Law in 1983.

Following law school, Joel served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Charles Donaldson of the Idaho Supreme Court. From 1985 to 1994, he was in private practice in Salem, Oregon, (partner in the firm, 1990 – 1994) specializing in business and tax law with an emphasis on employee benefits planning.