By Mike -77- and Carol (Wardlaw) -78- Poe
Former NNU Faculty and Staff
The first time I remember seeing Joel was in the fall of 1973. I was a freshman at NNC living in Chapman Hall, and from my room, I could see the tennis courts. One of the “students” playing was a tall, bushy-haired guy, who was playing a pretty good game. Joel’s father, Dr. Kenneth Pearsall, was the new president and Joel was a sophomore in high school. In the 50+ years since that fall our lives and the lives of our families have intertwined both personally and professionally.
My wife, Carol (Wardlaw), got to know Joel personally much sooner than I did. Carol was a senior at Nampa High that fall, and in the marching band in which Joel marched. Carol, Nikki (Moritz) and Joel were all part of the youth activities at College Church and were all at NNC together.
Carol and I were married in June of 1979 and Joel and Nikki were married in September of 1979, so we were together in the Young Marrieds’ Sunday School class for a year until they moved away for grad school. We all had our families while they were away from Nampa—but the Pearsalls would visit grandparents in Nampa. During those visits, our kids would have “play dates” as TJ and Chadwick were similar in age to our Robert and Malinda. When they moved back to Nampa, TJ and Robert and Malinda and Chadwick were already friends—and their friendship grew.
Through the years of youth group activities at church and football, soccer and other activities, our families became closer. Our children, including our older daughter Jayna, were welcomed into Joel and Nikki’s home as if they were their own. Momma and Poppa P., as our kids call Joel and Nikki, were truly an important part of the village which helped raise our children. I am sure there are many other families who would make similar comments. And that brings out one of the amazing things about Joel and Nikki—they are both equally welcoming to all who come into their home.
Hospitality is truly a hallmark of Joel and Nikki. It would be interesting to know how many hundreds of meals and thousands of cookies Nikki has made for others, and the number continues to grow. A recent example of Joel welcoming those around him happened this fall at the Bob Firman Cross Country Meet. I was announcing and during a break Joel came over to say hello. I asked him why he was there as this was a junior high/high school meet. He told me that our new pastor’s son was running and that he wanted to make sure that young man knew he was supported by more than just his family. This is the gracious, caring, servant Joel I know.
At College Church, Joel and Nikki taught a younger-married Sunday School class for years. They have volunteered in the church nursery and taught their sons to do the same. Nikki teaches 3-year-olds on Wednesday evenings, and they always have a smile for those they meet.
At a holiday event in our home, Joel noticed the sink was full of silverware waiting to be washed. He jumped right in and did those dishes before any of us even noticed. This was not an isolated occurrence. At events in their home, Joel has been observed helping with the dishes, the trash, preparing food, replenishing the table and greeting people as they arrived. As per usual, Joel was serving others. And how many university presidents get up early, grab a golf cart and take students/staff to their destinations around campus on the first day of classes?
When our son was getting married in Kansas City, TJ was his Best Man. Joel and Nikki planned the timing of their family vacation that summer so they could attend Robert and Julianna’s wedding, and TJ would not miss either event. When the reception was over and we were cleaning up the venue, there was the entire Pearsall family stowing chairs, wiping and putting away tables and anything else which needed to be done. Down the road when TJ and Grady were married, Robert officiated at both of their weddings. And at the end, Joel and Nikki were helping get things cleaned up. Serving is truly a part of their DNA.
One of the fun things we did together was whitewater rafting. We would get all of the kids together, along with Joel and Nikki. It was one of those activities Joel and Nikki sought out so the families could be together, but the trips also provided a time when Joel could get away from the pressures of his job and enjoy family time. They regularly scheduled family vacation time and they were good examples to Carol and me of putting family first.
Another fond memory is the January first gatherings at the Pearsall’s. It is TJ’s birthday (bummer of timing for a tax lawyer) and, of course, New Year’s Day Football. They were drop-in events with people coming and going most of the day. It was amazing to watch as family members, friends, students (past and present) came in and out. Joel and Nikki kept the food and conversation fresh as their guests relaxed in the ambience that is the Pearsall home.
Professionally, Carol and I were able to work with Joel for nearly 25 years. The Joel we knew as friend and the Joel we knew as Vice-President and eventually President, were exactly the same man. There were times when it was appropriate to address him as President Pearsall. However, most of the time he was just Joel.
Many people have observed Joel in his official duties, addressing the students, faculty, alums and friends at the President’s Dinner, Homecoming or chapel. Because of my various faculty responsibilities, I was able to observe Joel in a number of other settings. As a member of the Board of Directors for NNU’s Confucious Institute, I traveled with Joel to China to meet with officials from Northwest University in X’ian, China. The purpose of one of the meetings was to sign formal documents outlining the agreement between our two universities. Joel operated in this setting like a seasoned diplomat. His comments were well drafted and delivered with his resonant voice in calm and measured tones. It was evident, even to those who did not speak English and were listening through the translator, that President Pearsall understood and took seriously the nature of this agreement. At the same time, his warmth and caring were evident. That evening at dinner, we were seated alternately around the table with our Chinese counterparts on either side. I was seated across the table from Joel and was able to observe him as he interacted with our hosts. The ease with which Joel interacted with those around him was obvious and genuine. It truly helped cement our relationship with Northwest University and gave credibility to all of us in the delegation.
As a Faculty Officer for several years, I was in numerous meetings with Joel. During all those meetings Joel carefully listened to every speaker, asked questions designed to inform and not intimidate, and generally made everyone feel like they had been well-heard. A classic example of this was the Insurance Committee Joel formed during his years as VP of Finance by gathering representatives from all facets of the University. It was Joel’s responsibility to negotiate NNU’s insurance package while keeping the cost as low as possible and meeting the needs of all employees. While Joel convened and oversaw the meetings, all members were welcome to share, question assumptions and bring forth suggestions. The outcome of those meetings provided an insurance package which was affordable and particularly met the needs of our employees with younger families. This had been a major component sought by the committee. Joel brought us to consensus without stepping on any particular group.
These meetings continued for the duration of Joel’s tenure as the VP of Finance. In other financial meetings he held with the faculty and staff, Joel was able to share difficult or complicated information in a straightforward manner without passing judgment. Once again, he was looking for consensus and harmony.
During Joel’s tenure as VP of University Advancement, his ability to help people feel comfortable and important truly came into play, as did his humility. While he was the face of University Advancement, he gathered a team around him that he trusted and to which he consistently gave appropriate recognition. I don’t remember ever hearing Joel promote himself over any of those around him but rather emphasize the importance of everyone involved in getting the tasks at hand completed.
When Joel became President of NNU, there was no sudden personality change. When offered the position, true to form, Joel requested some time to make his decision so he and Nikki could have some alone time to consider the effect on their family, but most of all to earnestly pray and ask for God’s direction. He has consistently sought to uplift and encourage the employees of the University by developing and supporting opportunities for leadership training and been actively involved in developing the concepts of shared governance. He has remained a leader who seeks out and listens to the insights of those around him, and, more importantly, constantly seeks God’s direction in his life and the life of the University.
As Joel and Nikki move into well-deserved retirement this summer, Carol and I look forward to spending some time with them and trading grandchild stories.
