Trinity Western University is pleased to announce Rob Rhea, PhD, as the new vice president of Student Life, overseeing the whole-person development of TWU’s global community of more than 5,000 students from over 80 nations.
In the context of TWU’s significant diversity and growth as a global Christian university, the vice president of Student Life promotes belonging, community, spiritual growth, wellness, and leadership among all students. As VP, Dr. Rhea, reports directly to the president and joins the Executive Leadership Team, where he participates in guiding the University in the fulfillment of its mission, vision, and strategic plan.
Dr. Rob Rhea assumes this role immediately, after serving as interim vice president of Student Life for the 2023–24 academic year and as associate vice president of Student Life since 2019. As associate vice president, he was responsible for budget planning, new professional Student Life staff orientation and onboarding, and staff development. Working to ensure that new students and families are well supported in starting their TWU journeys, Rob oversaw the new student orientation programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Seeking to provide meaningful opportunities for students to develop and practice leadership skills, he led the Student Leadership program, which, for many student leaders and alumni, is a formative part of their TWU education.
Rob brings a wealth of leadership experience from both Christian higher education and ministry settings, and he demonstrates a great passion for Christian formation in young adults. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies from Biola University and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“I am delighted that Dr. Rob Rhea has accepted the invitation to serve as our new VP of Student Life,” President Mark Husbands expressed. “Rob's exceptional kindness, diligence, and faithfulness make a positive difference in our community. His gift for building and nurturing a talented team of Student Life professionals is striking. With a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of Trinity Western University, Rob is well-equipped to prioritize our students' personal, spiritual, and leadership development. I am confident that TWU students will flourish under Rob’s leadership.”
Dr. Rhea previously served as TWU’s chaplain and director of Student Ministries for 23 years, providing pastoral ministry to the students, staff, and faculty of TWU and creating opportunities to promote their spiritual growth through chapel and student ministries. Gifted in teaching, 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. Since 2012, he has been the director of the Centre for Spiritual Formation in Higher Education at TWU. Rob and his wife Sue have been serving at North Langley Community Church for 26 years in teaching, counselling, and eldership roles.
As VP, Dr. Rhea will equip the Student Life division to carry out its vital and constitutive role in strengthening Christian formation, belonging, discipleship, mission, and friendship across a diverse cohort of undergraduate, graduate, and online students. Overseeing TWU’s Student Ministries, Residence Life, the Wellness Centre, Global Engagement Office, and Commuter Life offices, the VP will lead the Student Life division in inviting all students to experience the unique and transformative value of Christ-centred Christian higher education.
"I am so honoured to be stepping into the vice president of Student Life role. The spiritual, personal, and character formation of university students has been the central professional calling of my life," Rob Rhea expressed. "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. Through my tenure at TWU, I have witnessed so many inspiring stories of profound transformation. TWU's vision for students to think truthfully, act justly, and to live faithfully for the good of the world and the glory of God inspires me in this new role. I love TWU and am looking forward to working with the Student Life team and campus community to pursue God's will for our diverse and growing community."
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Rob Rhea on his new role.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies; and arts, media, and culture. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.