Cynthia Dawn McCarthy, M.A.E.L., B.Ed., B.A.

Faculty Associate - Secondary Stream; Professional Year Coordinator
As alumna of TWU (1997, 1998, 2018), I am thrilled to be part of the amazing teams who have encouraged and taught me along my journey! It is an added joy to have some of our now-adult children attending TWU as well.

Cynthia is an Educational Leader who is passionate about and committed to Christian Education, Spiritual Formation, leadership development, and lifelong learning. Her teaching practice, church ministry, and home life all intersect around the value of hospitality.

As a BC certified teacher, she taught in local independent secondary schools – focusing primarily on French and Leadership. Highlights include student exchange trips to Quebec and facilitating student leadership projects. She also spent a decade as a High School Chapel Coordinator, fostering student-led worship and building partnerships with local churches. She also deepened her passion for ministry through a nine-year season as a worship pastor in a local church and continued service now as the wife of a pastor.

Cynthia completed her MA in Educational Leadership in 2018, opening doors to teach part-time in the BA Leadership program as well as her current role in School of Education. Now as Coordinator of the Secondary Stream for the Professional Year Program, she passionately equips students through their final practicum experiences on the road to teacher certification.

In between mentoring students and teaching, you can find her going for a walk with her husband Tim, sharing a meal with her family, reading a good book, attending live theatre or a concert, chatting over a cup of coffee, or planning an adventure.

  • MAEL, Trinity Western University (2018)
  • B.Ed., Simon Fraser University/Trinity Western University (1998), with Distinction
  • B.A., Trinity Western University (1997), with Distinction

  • MAEL Leadership Integration Project Focus: Leveraging Chapels for Spiritual Formation in Christian Schools
  • Recipient of Vital Worship Grant through Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, 2018. Project focus: To cultivate deep hospitality that allows students from diverse backgrounds to feel at home and be formed in worship by a common vocabulary and common values around spiritual formation and chapel services.

Awards & Honors

Board of Governors’ Gold Medal, 2018

Affiliations & Memberships

BC Teacher’s Professional Certificate of Qualification, non-expiring

  • LDRS 301 – Lifelong Learning in Leadership (BA in Leadership, Adult Degree Completion)
  • EDUC 222 – Principles of Teaching and Learning
  • EDUC 451/452 C – Professional Year Program Classroom Teaching: Theory & Practice (Secondary)
  • EDUC 453C - Professional Year Program Extended Practicum (Secondary)
  • EDUC 475 - Teach and Learn in Major Subject Area Grades 8-12
  • EDUC 471 - Curriculum and Pedagogy - An Introduction to Teaching the Humanities Grades 8 – 12
  • EDUC 321 - Curriculum Planning for the Classroom