— tributes have poured in from around the country and world since the passing of Arne Nielsen, Vice President of Education for the NAD, on Monday, June 3, 2024.

Larry Blackmer, retired NAD Vice President of Education, worked with Arne for 37 years both as mentor and colleague.  “I saw his leadership potential almost immediately when he started at MPA and encouraged him to consider administration.”  Arne did just that – first with the principalships at MPA and MAA and then in both Idaho and Florida conferences, where he served as superintendent of education.  At MAA, both students and teachers thrived under his leadership.  One former student, Oyette Hansen noted, “I was only 12 years old when I started boarding school at Maxwell Adventist Academy and Mr. Nielsen made such a big impact on me growing up. I am who I am because of him.”  The current principal, Lari Rusenescu, shared, “Arne Nielsen left a long-lasting legacy at Maxwell Academy. Students, teachers, and staff have been profoundly touched by his love and care.  He brought to this East African school a breath of fresh air propelled by his vision of Adventist education in the African context.”  At the conference level, Arne put his own stamp on the superintendent positions, tirelessly searching for innovative ways to better support teachers and make Adventist Education more affordable for families.  In one conference, Arne noted room for growth in students’ math scores and quietly developed a fully-funded plan to better train teachers in that area.  His intentionality paid off and test results improved.

 

Arne’s work at the NAD Office of Education over the past ten years provided him with an opportunity to make an even greater impact on Adventist Education and he settled into this role with the same grace and humility that he had as a PE teacher decades prior.  Arne led with clear vision, a gentle hand and a true spirit of collaboration.  He built a solid team within the Office of Education, providing his associates with the space and resources to utilize their strengths and do what they each did best.  Stephen Bralley, director of secondary education for the NAD emphasized, “His care and attention to each person’s value, strengths and weaknesses allowed him to mentor and coach those around him.  He didn’t just lead; he created an environment of growth so that those around him would be able to lead as well.”  Martha Ban, director of technology for the NAD echoed, “Arne was far more than a boss. He was a colleague, sounding board, collaborator, mentor, and friend. With Arne at the helm, my work was more than a job. It was an adventure -- with the students and educators at the heart.”  His quiet confidence, quick smile and diplomatic approach fostered an atmosphere of genuine camaraderie and care amongst his colleagues. Evelyn Sullivan, director of Early Childhood Education for the NAD, remarked, “Arne was such a wonderful and gentle boss. He cared for his colleagues and staff, and was always accessible to all of us.”  Marc Grundy, NAD director of higher education marketing continued, “He was always fair (more than fair), reassuring, even-keeled, a great thinker, and just a super human being who was kind, caring, and giving.”

 

Arne was constantly thinking of ways in which his office could do more for schools across the NAD.  With his full support, Ban was able to expand Adventist Education’s digital footprint, which has most recently led to the landmark development of AE-Connect, the NAD’s own student information system. “The impact he made on Adventist Christian education is far reaching,” remarked Ban. In addition to AE-Connect, he successfully managed several significant departmental initiatives such as:

• Facilitating school accreditation visits for Guam-Micronesia Mission schools;
• Guiding the taskforce that updated Journey 2 Excellence, a guide and framework for continuous improvement at all levels of Adventist education;
• Supporting the development of standards-based learning initiatives in K-12 education;
• Supporting and advocating for the development of a mental health website, mental health training for educators, and NAD Social-Emotional Standards;
• Developing the Grade 1-12 Encounter Bible program for NAD schools; and
• Co-founding the international Encounter Bible committee with the Australian/New Zealand Union to oversee curriculum release and training for the global Adventist community.

 

Arne’s leadership style leaned into relationships.  Cathy Payne, Arne’s administrative assistant, said, “Arne was more than just a supervisor; he was my brother at heart.  He cared about people; he always had a smile and kind words to say.”  He valued connection and always made a point to carve out time for his colleagues at various campuses across the NAD.   Betty Bayer, retired director of education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada recalled, “Arne championed Adventist Education at all levels from his work on various committees and initiatives, and in the conversations he had at the GC/NAD levels, right through to his involvement and support of unions, conferences, and schools, and even in his direct involvement with teachers and students. But even more important than these contributions are the relationships he built with people. I’m sure you can find scores of individuals through the years who will say that Arne mentored them.”

 

Arne worked closely with Adventist higher education and intentionally sought to include the university presidents in conversations about the future of Adventist Education.  Andrea Luxton, NAD associate director for higher education observed, “The Adventist university college presidents universally experienced Arne as a caring, engaged leader who genuinely cared about each campus and its uniqueness. His positive and passionate belief in the power of Adventist education at all levels was deeply encouraging and inspiring…”  Gordon Bietz, Luxton’s predecessor, remarked, “His legacy enriched SDA education worldwide, particularly in measuring and quantifying progress.”

 

He also served as the board chairman for Griggs International Academy and was one of their staunchest supporters.  La Ronda Forsey first became acquainted with Arne and Teen at Missions Institute at Andrews University as both families prepared to move to Maxwell Academy.  “It was a privilege to have a front-row seat to Arne’s leadership style at Maxwell Academy,” she noted.  Forsey currently serves as administrator for Griggs International Academy and continues to count the Nielsens among their family’s closest friends. “He was a wise sounding board and a voice of reason in situations where strong personalities in education were often polarized. Arne had a way of commanding respect that I'm not sure he even realized. His calming presence, humor, and humility kept challenging topics from becoming bogged down. He recognized the value of cultivating relationships, and the emotional deposits from those times well spent made any corrective conversations easy because people knew that Arne cared.  He was a busy person, but he had an incredible ability to make people feel like he had the time to stop and listen.”

 

As a child of missionary parents, Arne always had a passion for mission abroad and it was a fire that continued to burn brightly even when he was out of the trenches and in the office.  Leisa Morton-Standish, director of elementary education for the NAD noted, “Guam Micronesia Mission held a special place in his heart.”  He was an ardent supporter of the work there and never failed to acknowledge GMM’s place at the Adventist Education table.  Abner Sanchez, former principal of the Adventist school system in Palau, smiled as he recounted his relationship with Arne.  “Arne was so accessible – far more than he should’ve been as a vice president at the NAD level!” At the first major accreditation Sanchez went through in Palau, Arne gave him his direct number and instructed the young principal to call him if he ever needed anything.  “You just don’t expect that,” Sanchez reiterated. “They’re not supposed to be that available.” Arne’s support of the schools in the Guam-Micronesia Mission was felt by the students, teachers, families and local community.  “He was so intentional, so sensitive and in tune with the local culture,” Sanchez shared. “He visited our homes, comfortably dressed in his aloha shirt and shorts.  He made us feel important.”

 

His impact was also greatly felt outside of the NAD.  Juan Antonio Lopez, director of Adventist Colleges Abroad, noted, “Arne was able to inspire, help, and sustain our mission during probably the most challenging years since the organization's inception. His role was humble and positive, and he always showed respect for all leaders and faculty of ACA.”  He was, as another colleague articulated, “a key member of the global education team.”

 

As retirement began to loom in the horizon, Arne spoke often with his friends and colleagues about ways in which to make his work sustainable. He felt that the real object of education, through the work of the Holy Spirit, was to transform the lives of students and “restore in man the image of his Maker, … to promote the development of body, mind, and soul” (Ellen G. White, Education, p. 15).  With that conviction, he believed in the existence, the mission, and the future of Adventist Education and was determined that his successors should be equipped to do the job even better and more effectively than he had.

 

There was no way to know that Arne would be passing the torch so soon. We miss him dearly – our teacher, our friend, our colleague, our mentor.  But while our hearts are heavy and yet unprepared, we live with the confidence that we will see him again in the clouds of glory.  Until then, we continue on with the work of sharing Jesus with young people.

 

— by Aimee Leukert