James Barnes III became Bethel University's newest president today.

James Barnes III became Bethel University's newest president today.

Barnes, a current provost and executive vice president at Bethel, will take office on July 1 and succeeds retiring president George K. Brushaber, who served in that capacity for 26 years. He became the university's fifth president.

"I'm honored and excited to lead Bethel University," Barnes said. "I believe the decade ahead will be a crucial one for Bethel as it seeks to consolidate the gains of the last two decades, makes hard choices with regard to growth and fiscal priorities, and continues to grow into a national Christian university."

Barnes has been involved in Christian higher education for more than 30 years, spending 13 years as an executive vice president and provost at Bethel University.

He also served as the dean for student development and then the vice president for student development for 15 years at Messiah College in Pennsylvania.

According to the university, the search to replace Brushaber lasted one year and Barnes was unanimously nominated for the position by the Bethel Board of Trustees.

During Brushaber's 26-year tenure as the university's president, Bethel University more than doubled its student enrollment, tripled its faculty and staff and oversaw 19 building projects.

The university, which based in St. Paul and has about 6,200 students, announced yesterday that it pulled over $109 million in its latest fundraising campaign.

Rodrigo Zamith • 612-673-4895