In a live-streamed announcement on Oct. 28, Hesston (Kan.) College announced Dr. Joseph Manickam as their candidate of choice for the college’s ninth president. The announcement was made by Ken G. Kabira, chair of the presidential search committee, and Carlos Romero, executive director of Mennonite Education Agency. Manickam’s selection was unanimously approved by the Hesston College Board of Directors on Oct. 23.

Should the appointment be approved, Manickam would become the first person of color to serve as president of a Mennonite college.

“Dr. Manickam is creative, imaginative and visionary,” said Kelvin Friesen, chair of the Hesston College board, in a Hesston press release. “He is a proven leader who is encouraging, team oriented and empowering. We are in an era of adaptive change, and we believe the experience and qualities Dr. Manickam brings will serve well in leading Hesston College during this time.”

Manickam is a 1987 graduate of Hesston College, earning an associate degree in auto mechanics. He credits Hesston as the first place where he heard an Anabaptist biblical perspective and a time when the “gospel ethic of nonviolence” took root for him. He is also a 1991 graduate of Goshen (Ind.) College.

“As I have traveled around the world, I have become increasingly persuaded of the vital role a Mennonite education must play in shaping our world,” Dr. Manickam said in a Hesston press release. “It is my hope and dream that Hesston College will continue to be that place where students, staff and faculty are continually molded toward Christ’s love.”

After college, Manickam worked for the Hesston College Admissions Office, the Center for Anabaptist Leadership of Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Central Committee as area director for the East Asia program.

Manickam currently serves as the director of Payap University’s Institute of Religion, Culture and Peace and is a peace studies faculty member in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Manickam earned his Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. His doctoral dissertation focused on “A Study of Race, Culture and Ethnicity in the Mennonite Church USA.” He has also served on the boards of The Mennonite, Inc. and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana.

Manickam is married to Wanda (Wyse) Manickam. Along with their children, Faith and Matthew, they reside in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Romero noted that Manickam exhibited a number of key strengths that led to his selection, including his “innovative and creative approach to solving problems,” his commitment to “thoughtful decision-making processes” and his “collaborative and empowering” leadership style. In addition, the search committee affirmed Manickam’s “high level of intercultural competency.”

“As an alumnus and a former staff person, Joe is indeed a product of the Hesston College experience,” said Romero. “He is a committed Anabaptist who is not only able to convincingly articulate these values but also embodies them in his own life.”

This decision follows a 10-month search process. Dr. Manickam will be formally introduced to the Hesston College community when he visits the campus Nov. 7-8. At that time, the search committee will make a formal recommendation regarding hiring to the Hesston College and MEA boards. Romero noted that the search committee hopes this process will be completed prior to Thanksgiving.

President Howard Keim, Hesston’s eighth president, retired in May. Dr. Ben Sprunger is serving as interim president, a role that will end by June 2017.