Multnomah Alums Fight to Reclaim Campus After Failed Merger

Multnomah University gave up its campus to Jessup University in 2023, but the deal fell apart two years later, leaving alumni and former staff feeling betrayed.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Multnomah University, a Christian school in Portland, Oregon, was facing closure in 2023 when it announced a "transformative partnership" with Jessup University in California. As part of the deal, Multnomah would give all its assets, including its campus, to Jessup in exchange for Jessup turning the Multnomah campus into a branch location. However, in 2025, Jessup announced it would be closing the Portland campus, leaving Multnomah's alumni and former staff feeling betrayed. A group of Multnomah alums and ex-staff, known as the "Multnomah Family Team", believe Jessup failed to live up to its promises and that the partnership was doomed from the start due to Jessup's own fiscal troubles. They are now fighting to have Multnomah's assets and campus returned to continue the school's legacy.

Why it matters

The closure of Multnomah University is part of a larger trend of small, private Christian colleges struggling to survive, with 16 colleges announcing closures and 7 announcing mergers last year alone. The Multnomah-Jessup partnership was seen as a potential model for how struggling schools could avoid catastrophic closures, but its failure highlights the challenges these institutions face and the need for more sustainable solutions.

The details

In the fall of 2023, Multnomah announced the "transformative partnership" with Jessup University, where Multnomah would give all its assets, including its campus, to Jessup in exchange for Jessup turning the Multnomah campus into a branch location. However, in May 2025, Jessup announced it would be closing the Portland campus, with the school's seminary moving online and remaining undergraduates having to continue their education elsewhere. Jessup was facing its own fiscal crisis at the time, with more than $100 million in debt, and the acquisition of Multnomah's assets helped keep Jessup afloat, according to the school's financials.

  • In the fall of 2023, Multnomah announced the partnership with Jessup University.
  • In May 2025, Jessup announced it would be closing the Portland campus.
  • In June 2024, about two months after acquiring Multnomah's campus, Jessup took out a $15 million loan against the property.

The players

Jessica Taylor

The president of Multnomah University at the time of the partnership with Jessup University.

John Jackson

The president of Jessup University at the time of the partnership with Multnomah University.

Garry Friesen

A longtime Bible professor at Multnomah University who is now part of the "Multnomah Family Team" fighting to have Multnomah's assets and campus returned.

Rob Trenckmann

One of the grandchildren of Multnomah University's co-founder, Willard Aldrich, and part of the "Multnomah Family Team".

Bethany Aldrich Myers

A Multnomah University alumna who is part of the "Multnomah Family Team" and wants to see the alumni network reconnected.

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What they’re saying

“We have cried, prayed, and walked a difficult path together as a community. Without God's provision, there was no path forward.”

— Jessica Taylor, President of Multnomah University (anabaptistworld.org)

“This is not an asset purchase agreement. This is not even a merger with a strong and weak partner. This is a merger of missions, but through a contribution agreement.”

— John Jackson, Former President of Jessup University (EdUp Experience podcast)

“Jessup either was deceptive so they could get quick help with their debt or they were extremely overconfident and ineffective administrators.”

— Garry Friesen, Former Multnomah University professor (RNS)

What’s next

The group of Multnomah alumni and former staff, known as the "Multnomah Family Team", have met with members of Jessup's board to share their concerns about the fate of Multnomah's assets and campus. So far, the response has been "We are sorry things did not work out." The team is realistic about the challenges, as Jessup still has fiscal troubles, but they remain hopeful that they can work with Jessup to find a way to continue Multnomah's legacy.

The takeaway

The closure of Multnomah University and the failed partnership with Jessup University serves as a cautionary tale for other struggling Christian colleges. It highlights the need for more sustainable solutions and collaborative approaches to ensure the legacies of these institutions are preserved, even in the face of financial challenges.