Dr. Niel B. Nielson, President

Niel Nielson was inaugurated as Covenant College’s fifth president in 2002.

Niel was born and raised in a pastor's home in Dallas, Texas. He attended Wheaton College, majoring in philosophy, singing in the Men's Glee Club, and playing varsity tennis. He also met his wife Kathleen Buswell there. Niel's M.A. and Ph.D. are both in philosophy, from Vanderbilt University. Kathleen received her M.A. and Ph.D. in literature, also from Vanderbilt.

Kathleen and Niel have three sons: Jon, a graduate of Wheaton College attending Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, serving as a ministry intern at Holy Trinity Church in Hyde Park, and coaching high school basketball; Dan, a graduate of Covenant College (interdisciplinary studies major - English, French, and music) now attending Baylor University for a master's degree in sport pedagogy; and David, a junior at Covenant (economics major). Jon and Dan had weddings during December 2008 (12/20 in Chicago and 12/31 in Waco, TX, respectively).

After Vanderbilt, Niel taught philosophy at Bethel College (MN), teaching introductory and advanced courses (Epistemology, Philosophy of Natural Science, Ethical Theory, and Senior Seminar). In 1984, the Nielsons moved to the Chicago area, where Niel worked in the financial markets as a floor trader/market maker, in human resources, and in venture capital with the Chicago Research and Trading Group and NationsBank, and in mergers and acquisitions with The ServiceMaster Company. During this period, the family spent two years in London, and Niel traveled extensively in Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Far East.

Beginning in 1990, the Nielsons attended College Church in Wheaton (IL), where Niel served as Chairman of the Council of Elders and taught in many settings. In 1997, Niel was invited to join the College Church pastoral staff as Associate Pastor of Outreach, where his specific responsibilities (in addition to preaching, teaching, and pastoral care) included evangelism, social outreach, and church planting. He also had supervisory oversight in missions and both singles and college ministries, and led ministry and missions trips to the United Kingdom, Europe, and Africa. Niel was ordained to the gospel ministry at College Church and is an ordained Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

Kathleen was heavily involved in women's ministry at College Church, writing curricula for and teaching in the Women's Bible Study, attended weekly by some 250 women. She also speaks regularly at women's conferences and retreats around the country, and her Bible study materials are used widely in women's ministry contexts. P&R Publishing Co. publishes four of her Bible study books (Joshua, Proverbs, Colossians and Philemon, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians); other Bible studies are available at www.covenant.edu/knielson.

The Nielsons are attending Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Niel serves on the Boards of Directors of Covenant Transport, Inc., Allied Arts of Chattanooga, and a complex of investment funds headquartered near Chicago. Kathleen serves on the Board of Directors of Focus on the Family.

Go to President Nielson's blog

Troy A. Duble, Vice President

Troy Duble is vice president for advancement at Covenant College.

Prior to his appointment as vice president in 2005, Troy served as Covenant’s director of development. He has also held such roles as youth director of Chesterfield Presbyterian Church (MO), development intern for Covenant Theological Seminary, and development and admissions intern at Covenant College.

He received a B.A. in business administration from Covenant College, where he played varsity soccer.

Troy and his wife, Sarah, have five children--four on earth: Kyra, Cade, Tess, and Drew.

Dr. Jeffrey B. Hall, Vice President

Jeff Hall is vice president for academic affairs at Covenant College.

Jeff has served as vice president of the College since 2003. Previously, he held roles as chief academic officer, dean of faculty, dean of the Master of Education program, and associate professor of education, all at Covenant.

Jeff earned an A.B. in elementary education from Grove City College and an M.Ed. from the University of Slippery Rock (PA), also in elementary education. His Ed.D. is from the University of Tennessee in educational administration and supervision with collateral studies in American higher education and in industrial and organizational psychology.

Before coming to Covenant, Jeff served as elementary principal and curriculum coordinator at Chattanooga Christian School and teaching principal at Jubilee Christian School in Grove City, Pennsylvania.

Jeff and his wife, Lynn, have four children, all of whom have attended Covenant College: Abigail, Nathan, Sarah, and Micah.

Brad Voyles, Vice President

Brad Voyles is vice president for student development and dean of students at Covenant College.

Brad joined Covenant as dean of students in 2005 and was appointed vice president in 2009. 

Before coming to Covenant, he served as the dean of students at Belhaven College.

Brad earned a M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary, a M.Ed. in educational administration from Southern Illinois University, and a B.A. in biological sciences from DePauw University. 

Brad and his wife, Kelli, have three children:  Coby, Will, and Cate.  

The Voyles belong to Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian Church, where Brad serves as a ruling elder.