Trinity Western University’s Board of Governors, leadership, faculty, staff, family, faithful supporters, and distinguished guests gathered on April 24, 2025, to celebrate the inauguration of the University’s sixth president, Dr. Todd F. Martin.
TWU Presidential Inauguration Ceremony
Held at the Trinity Western University Langley campus on April 24, 2025, the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony opened with a faculty processional, followed by warm greetings from Matthew St. John, chair of TWU's Board of Governors. A land acknowledgement was spoken by University Siya:m Patricia Victor, while the ceremony’s invocation was led by Dr. Susan Wendel, academic director of ACTS Seminaries. TWU’s graduate and undergraduate student association presidents read from select Scriptures, setting a Christ-centred tone for the event.
Beautiful music filled the room as the TWU Chamber Choir, led by Dr. Benjamin Ewert, guided everyone through the national anthem and later on, a congregational hymn. Gabriel Miller, president and CEO of Universities Canada, offered congratulatory remarks, while Dr. David A. Hoag, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities delivered the inaugural challenge address. Carissa Youssef, vice chair of the Board of Governors, formally invited Dr. Todd F. Martin to be installed as the University's sixth president.
Commitment to the call
Upon this formal invitation, Matthew St. John, board chair, stood with Dr. Todd F. Martin and his wife, Mrs. Kim Martin, and officially installed Dr. Martin as the University's sixth president through a solemn oath affirming Trinity Western’s faith statements, mission, and special calling and purpose as a global Christian university. Mr. St. John then invited those present at the ceremony—including faculty, staff, students, and community members—to affirm that they will collectively pray for, support, and encourage Dr. Martin in his presidential role.
Mr. St. John bestowed a presidential medallion upon the newly installed President Martin as a symbol of the office. Members of the Board of Governors, together with President Emeritus Bob Kuhn, gathered around Dr. and Mrs. Martin in a moment of solemn dedication, as University Chaplain Rev. Dr. Ed Gerber led a prayer committing their leadership, service, and the future of Trinity Western University to God’s guidance and blessing.
A challenge to a shared mission
In his inaugural response, Trinity Western's new president issued a challenge for the TWU community to live out its shared mission through three cascading priorities. He emphasized first the importance of maintaining a clear spiritual identity as "an arm of the church" where Christ remains central to the university's mission.
“We are called as an institution and as individuals to put God and His Kingdom above all else,” President Martin said. He then highlighted the need for cultural clarity, where Christian values are evident in how community members relate to one another. Finally, he committed to aligning physical resources with these spiritual priorities, specifically advocating for the building of a new chapel as a symbolic and functional center of campus worship.
Throughout his address, President Martin stressed that these priorities would strengthen TWU as a place where "students don't just earn a degree, they encounter the living Christ" and are "equipped for life to serve the world in His name."
Faithful leadership continued
Early this year, following an international search led by CarterBaldwin Executive Search and a diverse committee of board members, faculty, staff, and alumni, Trinity Western’s Board of Governors unanimously appointed Dr. Todd F. Martin as the University’s sixth president. The search process, shaped by extensive community consultations, reviewed candidates from across North America and beyond. After a season of prayerful discernment, Dr. Martin was selected for his faithful leadership, proven character, and deep commitment to TWU’s mission of Christ-centred education.
Trinity Western University expresses deep gratitude to the many honoured guests who joined us in celebrating the inauguration of the University’s sixth president, Dr. Todd F. Martin. We are grateful for the leadership of the Board of Governors and the Executive Leadership Team. We especially thank and acknowledge our faithful supporters, alumni, families, students, faculty, staff, and distinguished guests representing many areas of government, higher education, Christian education, and church communities.
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.