Ep. 105: Finishing faithfully – leadership lessons on closing a school

What does it mean to finish well? The Rev. Dr. Colleen Derr reflects on one of leadership’s most difficult responsibilities: knowing when, and how, to finish well. A former seminary president, Derr draws on her experience leading Eastern Nazarene College through its final chapter and offers a candid and hopeful perspective on institutional closure. She shares the realities of financial distress, the weight of inherited decisions, and the emotional and spiritual complexity of guiding a beloved institution to its end. The story is one of faithfulness to stewarding the final chapter well. Derr highlights the importance of mission clarity, courageous leadership, and honoring people over place. For leaders navigating uncertainty, this conversation provides both practical insight and a deeply human vision for ending with integrity and purpose.