Ian Nell

Biography

Ian Nell (MA, MTh, and DD) is a professor in Practical Theology. Ian grew up in Potchefstroom and matriculated from the Hoër Volkskool in 1979. He studied at North West University and the University of the Free State and completed his doctoral studies in homiletics at the University of Pretoria. In 1990 he was ordained as a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church, Suidkus in Amanzimtoti. In 1997 he was called by the Dutch Reformed Congregation of Sonstraal, Durbanville. He was appointed as Senior Lecturer on the 1st of July 2007 in the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University in the discipline group of Practical Theology and Missiology with specific focus on ministerial practice, congregational and leadership studies. He became associate professor on 1 July 2012 and full professor on 1 July 2016. He is head of the Department of Practical Theology and Missiology, coordinates the MDiv-program as well as the Post Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry. His academic interests are cultural hermeneutics, faith formation and education, congregational studies and leadership development. Ian is married to Judy, a Physiotherapist working with physically disabled children at Jan Kriel School in Kuilsriver, Cape Town. They have two children: Elzette, who is an Industrial Psychologist and works for the Pep-group and Guillaume, who is an Urban and Regional Planner and works for the City of Cape Town.