FaithSearch Partners is pleased to announce that Dr. Rick Melson has been named the 11th President of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Moody Bible Institute is a globally recognized Christian ministry organization dedicated to equipping people with the truth of God’s Word through higher education, media, publishing, and ministry training. As an accomplished Christian higher education and ministry executive, Dr. Melson brings more than 35 years of experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, advancement, enrollment management, and fundraising. He began his new role on August 17, 2026.
Dr. Melson joins Moody from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, where he served as president since 2021. During his tenure, the university experienced significant enrollment growth, financial performance, expanded academic programs, and a renewed emphasis on student success and Christ-centered discipleship. He previously served as Vice President for Advancement at Cedarville University, where he played a key role in advancing the university’s fundraising and institutional growth efforts.
As president, Dr. Melson will provide leadership across Moody Bible Institute’s integrated ministries, including its higher education programs, Moody Global Media, Moody Publishers and its aviation program in Spokane, Washington. His leadership will focus on strengthening Moody’s ministries while preserving the institution’s historic biblical convictions and advancing its commitment to spiritual vitality, organizational excellence, faithful stewardship and gospel impact.
In Moody’s announcement of the appointment, Rick Warren, chairman of Moody’s Board of Trustees, said, “Dr. Melson possesses the rare combination of spiritual leadership, strategic vision, organizational effectiveness and relational warmth that will help Moody continue fulfilling its historic mission for generations to come.”
Melson earned a Ph.D. in Leadership from Dallas Baptist University, a master’s degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree from Murray State University. He also completed executive studies through Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.
Reflecting on his appointment in Moody’s announcement, Melson expressed both gratitude and a deep commitment to Moody’s mission. “I come to Moody with profound respect for its remarkable heritage and tremendous optimism for its future,” he said. “My commitment is to lead from a posture of prayer before strategy, Scripture before opinion, and conviction before convenience.”
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Founded in 2007, FaithSearch Partners is the premier executive search firm in the U.S. focusing exclusively on serving faith-based educational institutions, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, media organizations, churches, ministries, and faith-driven businesses. FaithSearch understands the importance of effective biblical leadership and strives to help clients find suitable candidates who embody those qualities. In addition, FaithSearch offers leadership advising beyond executive search, including executive coaching, strategic planning, succession planning, leadership evaluations, financial advisory, education strategy, crisis management, and donor & board engagement. Based in Dallas with locations in Houston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, Kansas City, Sacramento, Fort Wayne, Durango, Redding, and Rochester, FaithSearch is able to serve faith-based clients in all regions and across the globe.
