“I find tremendous joy in supporting gifted faculty and staff as they help students to connect their faith, learning, and calling to the deepest needs of the world.”
— Mark Husbands

Mark Husbands, Ph.D. served as the 5th President & Vice-Chancellor of Trinity Western University

Under President Husbands’ leadership, Trinity Western completely eliminated all bank debt, raised $55 million through philanthropy, added $18 million to the endowment, established a new vision, created an entirely new brand, and successfully engaged the community in a 14-month planning process that resulted in an innovative, Christ-centred, student-focused strategic plan: “TWU 2030: Every Graduate Equipped.”

Dr. Husbands came to Trinity Western University with an established record of successful institutional leadership, scholarship, and significant senior executive experience as Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Leonard and Marjorie Maas Chair of Theology. Motivated to help students connect their faith and learning to the deepest needs and challenges of the world, Dr. Husbands has enriched the lives of many students throughout his many years of teaching and academic leadership. He is a sought-after speaker, author of numerous scholarly essays, chapters, articles, and has published seven edited volumes highlighting the value and importance of World Christianity, Christian ethics, moral and political theology.

As President, Dr. Husbands helped Trinity Western University to advance the development of Christian higher education throughout the globe. More than 70% of Trinity Western University students are International students, representing 90 different countries. With four campuses in Langley, Richmond (Minoru and Lansdowne), and Ottawa, the joint Great Wall MBA programs in Tianjin, Shanghai, and Beijing (partnering with Tianjin University of Finance and Economics), and FAR Centres in Stella Maris College in Chennai (India), at Jagannath University in Jaipur (India), Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara (Uganda), and most recently, Meadow Hall University in Lekki (Nigeria), Trinity Western University provides a Christ-centred, student-focused, and globally-engaged education to emerging leaders from across the globe.

Strong enrollment growth, financial stewardship, and generous support from donors have helped Trinity Western to expand its Richmond campus, improve the Laurentian Leadership Centre, and make significant improvements to the Langley campus including a new 73,000 square foot building named after TWU’s fourth president, Robert G. Kuhn. This beautiful $35 million faculty was opened in the fall of 2022 debt-free, and is the new home for the School of Business, GLOBAL, and the University’s Global Engagement Office.

President Husbands successfully aligned mission, vision, and strategy with the goal of equipping graduates for full and faithful lives of impact for Christ and his kingdom. With a unique and compelling value proposition, “equipped for life,” Trinity Western has launched key student-focused initiatives. These initiatives—aimed at addressing the “job-to-be-done” for students—leverage a Connected Campus approach to delivering integrated student services, and a Centre for Calling and Career Development designed to equip students to launch well into their professional lives by guiding them through a focused process of personal, professional, and faith development.

Trinity Western University’s Spartan Athletic program continues to thrive as a centre of excellence devoted to helping student-athletes to become “complete champions” by nurturing their growth in five key areas: academic, athletic, leadership, personal, and spiritual life. Over the past four years TWU has won two National Championships (in Women’s and Men’s Volleyball), six Canada West Championships (in Women’s and Men’s Volleyball and Women’s Soccer), and three National Coach of the Year awards (Men’s Volleyball and Women’s Soccer). In addition, during the past four years, nineteen of our Spartan athletes have signed professional contracts.

Further, Trinity Western University launched its first Ph.D. program (in Nursing) in the Summer of 2022. Trinity Western University has also won a prestigious international award to advance research engaging science, religion, and societal issues, and to enhance diversity among STEM faculty. Importantly, the university has navigated a global pandemic with a positive cash flow and EBIDTA every year of President Husbands tenure.

Strategic focus on operational excellence is helping Trinity Western University to generate sufficient margin to support the extraordinary work of faculty and staff at the University. During his first four years as President, average total revenue increased by 33.7%, tuition revenue increased by 39%, and the (EBITDA) increased by 75.3% over the previous four years generating an average annual margin of $9.2 million. In addition, a systematic approach to tackling deferred maintenance is now in place, allowing TWU to increase annual expenditures on deferred maintenance from $500k, to $3-$5 million.

Over a period of five years, President Husbands’s commitment to operational excellence, global partnerships, online education, and strategic enrollment resulted in an increase in overall student headcount from 4,767 to 7,080 students—a 48.5% increase. Notably, enrollment in our MA Leadership program surged from 369 to 1,708, marking a 363% growth, with credit consumption rising by 395%, increasing annual revenue from $3.4 million to $16.7 million. Our MBA program also experienced significant growth, moving from 448 to 1,383 students, representing a 209% increase in enrollment, with a rise in credit consumption of 233% and an increase in annual MBA revenue from $5.3 million to $17.5 million. This growth has bolstered our financial stability, enabling strategic investments in student success.

In 2016, Dr. Husbands was appointed the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. As the Chief Academic Officer of the college, he carried responsibility for the oversight and management of an annual $12.5 million budget in support of 87 full-time and 109 part-time faculty members, and over 1,250 students. Under his leadership, Northwestern submitted a successful application to launch Iowa's first faith-based Physician Assistant program, accredited by the ARC-PA. As VPAA he implemented a new academic administrative structure which led to the selection and appointment of four Academic Deans. In addition, he oversaw the registrar’s office, the directors of library, computing services, audiovisual services, academic support, institutional research, honours program, NWCore (general education), FYS (the freshman year seminar program), global education, institutional assessment, and the Franken Leadership Center.

Mark had the privilege of studying and working with the late John Webster, one of the 20th century’s most important Christian theologians. An abiding commitment to the Centrality of Christ, the truth and efficacy of God’s Word, academic excellence, moral theology, and World Christianity has been central to Dr. Husbands’s leadership and work as a theologian.