When Dr. Nathan Herzog stepped into his role as dean of Biola’s School of Education this March, he brought with him more than two decades of experience — and a deep sense of calling. From an unexpected start in teaching to a passion for shaping future educators, here are six things to know about Biola’s newest dean.

1. He stumbled into a teaching career on the path to medical school.

Herzog originally set his sights on a career in medicine, studying biology as a pre-med student at Point Loma Nazarene University. But the weekend after he graduated, a job offer changed everything. At just 22, he was asked to return to his alma mater in Fremont, California, to teach high school science — and even chair the department. “I was thinking, ‘Mr. Herzog, what a strange sound that would be,’” he recalls. “But I accepted the position … and I fell in love with it.” That unexpected pivot became a lifelong calling. “I just showed up every day and felt like I was a motivational speaker,” he says. “There’s a lot of enjoyment in that.”

2. He spent 22 years at Jessup University, where his fingerprints are everywhere.

When Herzog learned that a small Christian college was relocating to Rocklin, outside Sacramento, and launching a teaching credential program, he called them up and asked for a tour. Over the next 22 years at what became Jessup University, he climbed through the faculty ranks, served as associate provost for seven years and ultimately became dean of the School of Education. Along the way, he helped launch new academic programs — including the university’s first master’s and doctoral degrees — and developed a passion for leadership.

3. His leadership philosophy has a name — and it came from a 5:15 a.m. workout group.

Herzog leads according to what he calls the VAPE model: vision, articulation, persuasion, exhortation. The framework comes from F3, a free, early-morning men’s fitness and leadership group that Herzog first joined in 2020. Members take turns leading workouts and regularly work through a shared leadership curriculum.

4. He’s an Ironman triathlete who runs to reset.

Outside the office, Herzog is an avid endurance athlete who has completed multiple Ironman competitions. For him, physical exertion is a way to stay grounded. “It might sound strange, but it’s very relaxing mentally to exert myself physically,” he says. Running along the Huntington Beach coast has become a favorite since arriving in Southern California. “When I’m on a swim, I’m just swimming. When I’m on the bike, I’m just riding,” he says. “It helps reestablish those boundaries.”

5. He’s an expert in faculty happiness.

Herzog’s doctoral research focused on a topic close to every administrator’s heart: faculty retention and satisfaction. Contrary to the popular belief that long-term employees become “disgruntled,” his national study revealed that the longer faculty stay at an institution, the more satisfied they generally are. This research informs his daily leadership style. “I’ve asked for years and years, ‘How do we keep you?’ Not ‘Who do we need to get rid of?’” he says. “I want to build a culture where I’m encouraging those who are doing the right thing.”

6. His life’s work is “protecting children.”

At the heart of Herzog’s work — and vision for the School of Education — is a clear conviction about the purpose of education. “My life’s work is protecting children,” he says. That includes preparing teachers not just for where they’ll work, but who they’ll become. At Biola, he hopes to develop educators who “lead with compassion, teach with excellence and learn for a lifetime.” He’s especially passionate about equipping Christian educators for public schools. “We need more great people who identify the calling,” he says. “If we’re not there, who is?”