Ben Nugent met Christ in high school and met The Navigators on his first day at Illinois State University (ISU). Graduating with a bachelor’s in history education, Ben left ISU with a passion to make Jesus known among the next generation and the nations.
In 1996, he met his wife, Melissa, at a Navigator summer training program. Ben and Melissa were married in 1998, serving together at Colorado State University from 1999 to 2006, and then at the University of Florida until 2015. While living in Florida and later the Midwest, Ben also served as a Collegiate regional director.
The Nugents moved to Colorado Springs in 2016, with Ben serving as associate Field director and director of Navigators 20s before being appointed national Collegiate director in 2019. Since then, Ben has been an active member of the Ministry Expansion Team, which he began co-leading with Disciplemakers for Life Director Kristie Monteiro in 2026.
Ben and Melissa thank the Lord for the two beautiful children He brought them through adoption: Vivian and Sam, who went to be with Jesus in 2023 at the age of 15. Ben recently completed a master’s degree in biblical and theological studies at Denver Seminary, and in his free time enjoys golfing, skiing, finding the perfect chocolate malt, and eating anything “Chicago style.”