Dr. William N. Johnston

16th President of Wesley College

Dr. William N. Johnston became the sixteenth president of Wesley College on June 1, 2008. Since his arrival at Wesley, Dr. Johnston has charted an exciting course for the College. “Wesley is an outstanding institution that has excellent academic programs, tremendous faculty and staff who mentor students to follow their dreams , and is in a prime geographic location which enables each student to take advantage of local and national educational opportunities. Few colleges and universities offer the educational experience available at Wesley.”

Wesley has grown in the number of enrolled students on the Dover and New Castle campuses, been repeatedly named a Tier 1 Institution by US News and World Report, and will grow in facility space and size with the acquisition of the Frear Federal Building in downtown Dover. Dr. Johnston also led the development of new strategic and master plans to set goals and prepare the institution for the future.

President Johnston is no stranger to higher education. Prior to coming to Wesley, he served as president of Iowa Wesleyan College where he lead a successful major comprehensive campaign, increased enrollment and diversified the student body. These achievements were capped only by the caring nature that Dr. Johnston brought to all of his decisions. Prior to his service at Iowa Wesleyan, Dr. Johnston served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Bethany College in West Virginia, Vice President for Development at Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia, Assistant Vice President for Development and Assistant Director of Admissions at West Virginia Wesleyan College, and Associate Dean of Students at Ashland University in Ohio.

Johnston earned a Doctor of Education from West Virginia University in 1986, Master of Arts from Bowling Green University of Ohio in 1973 and Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Westminster College in Pennsylvania in 1972. He completed additional study at Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management in 1999 and at the Oxford Round Table, St. Anthony’s College, Oxford, England, 2002.

President Johnston is actively engaged in the Wesley College and local community. “The College and the city of Dover both benefit when the campus and the city work together to create a vibrant living and learning environment. Wesley College is committed to be an active partner in building our Dover community. President Johnston is an active member of:

• Downtown Dover Partnership
• Delaware association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• Dover Capital City Rotary Cub

President Johnston serves on the Board of Directors of:
• Bayhealth, Inc.
• Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce
• United Way of Delaware
• Aid in Dover –Title V Policy Prevention Board

Dr. Johnston and his wife, Susan reside in the stunning Annie Jump Cannon House on State Street in Dover. This historic home, graced in the late 1800’s by Wesley alumnus Annie Jump Cannon herself, serves as the home of the President of Wesley College. Mrs. Johnston is an accomplished watercolor artist and art educator and the Johnston’s have two grown children. President and Mrs. Johnston take great enjoyment entertaining alumni, student groups and the community in the President’s home.