A long-time 91原创 church elder and TWU chaplain/instructor is taking on a new role at the local Christian university 鈥� at least the title is new.
Dr. Rob Rhea has been promoted as Trinity Western University鈥檚 new vice-president of student life.
In the past school year (2023/24), he served as interim VP, and before that was associate vice-president of student life since 2019. But now the title is official.
鈥淚 am so honoured to be stepping into the vice president of Student Life role,鈥� Rhea shared.
鈥淭he spiritual, personal, and character formation of university students has been the central professional calling of my life. I am convinced that the Christian university context, and TWU in particular, provides one of the most powerful and formative contexts for life-long change,鈥� he said.
Rhea served at TWU for more than two decades, including as chaplain and director of student ministries for 23 years. Since 2012, he has been the director of the Centre for Spiritual Formation in Higher Education at the 91原创-based university.
Similarly, he and his wife, Sue, have also been serving at North 91原创 Community Church for 26 years in teaching, counselling, and eldership roles.
Rob brings that leadership experience from both Christian higher education and ministry settings, and is said to demonstrate a great passion for Christian formation in young adults.
鈥淚 love TWU and am looking forward to working with the student life team and campus community to pursue God鈥檚 will and best for our diverse and growing community,鈥� he said.
Rhea holds a doctor of philosophy in educational studies from Biola University and a master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
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Described as a gifted teacher, he has taught TWU courses in leadership, human kinetics, and liberal arts foundation. Equipped with academic insight and practical wisdom, he has published many peer-reviewed journal articles and presented at academic conferences on topics relating to spiritual formation and character development within the Christian academy.
In the new job as a member of the executive team, he鈥檚 tasked with inviting all Trinity students to experience what he calls 鈥渢he unique and transformative value of Christ-centred Christian higher education,鈥� and that means overseeing the whole-person development of TWU鈥檚 global community 鈥� more than 5,000 (undergraduate, graduate, and online) students from more than 80 nations.
鈥淭hrough my tenure at TWU, I have witnessed so many inspiring stories of profound transformation. TWU鈥檚 vision for students to think truthfully, act justly, and to live faithfully for the good of others and the glory of God inspires me in this new role.鈥�
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