Nathaniel (NL) Bishop was born April 17, 1954, to Virginia Chubb Bishop of Roanoke and Elmer A. Bishop of Christiansburg, VA. The middle of 11 children, he attended Christiansburg High School where he was on the football and track teams, choir and played the piano. NL got an Associate’s degree at New River Community College, a Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration on the Sociology of Law Enforcement degree in 1977 from Radford University, Master of Science degree in Health and Physical Education at VT in 1999 and Doctor of Ministry degree in 2005 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C.
NL’s graduation from Radford occurred right on the heels of the annexation of Christiansburg and the need to increase and diversify the Police Department. NL spent fourteen years on the force and credits Joe Morgan as a fine police mentor who encouraged his professional growth of going from sergeant to Investigator.
His role in the 1984 National United Methodist Council on Diversity impressed the CEO of the Virginia United Methodist Homes, Jerry Fink who offered NL the position of Assistant Administrator and later Associate Administrator with Virginia United Methodist Homes which was a safer and welcome change from the streets and offered him more family time. During his years with resident homes, he was promoted to lead the United Methodist Hermitage on Eastern Shore and then became the Administrator of Record for the Hermitage in Alexandria, VA.
In 1997, NL moved back to Roanoke with his family to join Carilion as the Executive Director/Administrator of Carilion Burrell Nursing Center which he operated until the property transitioned to Blue Ridge Behavioral Health Care. Because of NL’s work with the United Methodist Homes, he implemented some engaging activities for the residents at Burrell. He found support from Ms. Lillian Patterson, a former educator who wanted to start an auxiliary “The Friends of Burrell” who worked with staff and community volunteers to keep Burrell a viable care facility. It had been the only hospital that would care for African Americans for five decades and touted a nursing school.
In 2002 Dr. Bishop was named Vice President and Hospital Director of Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital and later served as Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital as Vice President of Facility and Guest Services in 2007.
N L Bishop, D. Min. was appointed by the Board of Directors of Jefferson College of Health Sciences to lead the college on April 17, 2010. In addition to his duties as President, he is the Chair of Interprofessionalism at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and responsible for system-wide Chaplaincy Education/Pastoral Care and Police/ Security.
Current board memberships: Carilion Medical Center board, New River Valley Medical Centers, Foundation for Roanoke, GO Virginia, Local Colors, Mill Mountain Theater, Roanoke- Blacksburg Regional Airport Commission, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Radford University Foundation, Roanoke Regional Partnership, Member and Committee Chair-Virginia Community College System State Board.
Nathaniel L. Bishop was inducted into the Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame in 2018.
