Dr. Brian Simmons Resigns as IWU Vice President

It is with mixed emotions that I announce to the IWU family that Dr. Brian Simmons, Vice President for University Relations, submitted his resignation this week.

Dr. Simmons has accepted a position as President of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), which has 5,300 member schools in 100 countries. ACSI has its headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has 18 regional offices around the world. The details of his departure have yet to be finalized but he will be concluding his work at IWU sometime this summer.

I appreciate Dr. Simmons' many contributions to Indiana Wesleyan University over the past three years. Although his departure is a great loss to IWU, the presidency of ACSI is an exceptionally good fit for Dr. Simmons since before coming to IWU in 2006, he served for 10 years as Superintendent of Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis, and he is very connected to the Christian school movement.

I value the fact that Dr. Simmons will be serving as president of ASCI, one of the largest Christian school organizations in the world. Many students from ASCI member institutions have attended IWU, and I'm looking forward to continuing a positive relationship with the President of the organization. I know Brian will be a friend of IWU.

"I so very much enjoy serving the Lord with you here at IWU," Dr. Simmons said. "I believe in IWU, its mission and our emerging vision to change the world!" He also noted in his letter of resignation that IWU wouldn't be seeing the end of the Simmons family as his youngest daughter has just been accepted in the IWU freshman class of 2009.

Henry Smith
President

A Life of Service - Gladys Maxine Wilson

A life of service begins with a single step. For each person that step is at a different place and time, but it is the beginning of a rewarding life in service of others.

 

Gladys Maxine Wilson was born on March 21, 1923 in Faulkton, S.D., to Ed and Mabel Sime – salt of the earth farmers. She loved school from an early age and eagerly looked forward to her time in the one-room school house. To attend high school she had to board in town and only see her family on weekends, but it was a small sacrifice for this eager student. Post-high school she spent 2 years at Miltonville Wesleyan and then transferred to Indiana Wesleyan where she received a BA in religion.

 

It was during her time in college that she met Beverly Frank Wilson. Although she was sure this was the right match, she had to wait for Bev to finish his Army assignment before they could wed. Then she settled into a life of service as a minister's wife. Their first assignment was in a very small country church in one of the poorest parts of Kentucky. The assignment was a challenging one for the newlyweds, but they made a great team. This was followed by 8 years in Canandaigua, New York, 8 years at the Wesley Methodist Church in Mitchell, South Dakota and 9 year at the Lincoln Oaks Wesleyan Methodist Church in Fair Oaks, California. Each assignment came with its own unique challenges. The move to California was especially difficult for the mid-west farm girl, but she trusted that the Lord was taking her where she would best serve.

 

The last move Bev and Gladys made was to Arrow Highway Wesleyan Methodist Church in Azusa, California. It was during this time that Bev developed cancer and passed away in his mid-fifties. What followed was a time of turmoil for Gladys as her commitment to service was part of her husband's ministry. She faced not only the loss of a spouse, but the loss of her identity. A door at Azusa Pacific University opened working in the office, but over time she began to develop the Heart to Heart Ministry which became her passion. For the last 20 years she focused on this program exclusively. The program filled her need to help others and was a blessing for those who participated – a match made in heaven.

 

After 30 years at Azusa Pacific, Gladys Maxine Wilson passed away 1 month before her 86th birthday. She worked up until the day before her stroke with the full support of the University. The students, mentors and staff she dealt with were her second family. She is survived by many family members: sister Lucille, brothers Wes and Arv; children Ron, Marilyn and Wes and her cherished grandchildren Aaron, Danielle, Evan, Breanna, Nathan, Lauren, Melissa and Johnathan. We will all dearly miss her.

 

Rest in Peace.

Gladys Maxine Wilson

1923 - 2009