John Sommerville named Vice President for Finance and Operations/CFO

ST. PAUL – Dr. Alan Cureton, president of the University of Northwestern-St. Paul and Northwestern Media, recently announced the appointment of Mr. John Sommerville as Vice President for Finance and Operations/CFO. Sommerville began his duties at Northwestern on November 8.

Sommerville’s area of oversight at Northwestern includes a variety of the organization’s day-to-day operations, including business and finance, facility operations, campus safety, and information technology. His vocational background that blends both ministry and business functions is a unique combination that will benefit Northwestern. Sommerville has had successful tenures as a senior pastor, an executive pastor, and in corporate business. After serving as executive pastor of the Wooddale Center, a ministry of Wooddale Church (Eden Prairie, Minn.), for six years, he left to become the founding pastor of City Church in Minneapolis, a role Sommerville recently concluded after 16 years of leadership. Prior to his church ministry experience, John held various positions at General Mills, including the management of Cheerios and responsibility for new products and new market development for the company’s cereal division in Europe.

Sommerville’s academic credentials add to his experiential resume. Following his undergraduate work at the University of Kansas, John earned an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a Master of Arts degree in Christian Thought from Bethel Theological Seminary (Arden Hills, Minn.). He is an ordained minister in the Converge denomination.

Sommerville also has extensive board experience, having served as a past board chair for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. Currently, John serves on the board and chairs the finance committee for Christianity Today.

Upon announcing Sommerville’s appointment, Northwestern president Dr. Alan Cureton stated, “John Sommerville is a perfect fit for the ethos of our organization. He is deeply committed to his faith, possesses a wealth of experience both in the marketplace and ministry, loves the mission of Northwestern, and has strong leadership skills. I look forward to working with John as we seek to fulfill the plan the Lord has for Northwestern.”

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University of Northwestern – St. Paul (UNW) is a nondenominational Christian university in St. Paul, Minn. With a biblical worldview integrated into all programs, UNW provides a unique educational experience for students who want to combine faith and education. Northwestern offers 75+ areas of undergraduate study, seven master’s degrees, and online and early college programs. Northwestern Media, a ministry of the university, owns and operates 23 Christian radio stations throughout the Midwest with a total listenership of more than 1.35 million listeners. Visit unwsp.edu for more information.