Dr. Barry H. Corey became the eighth president of Biola University on July 1, 2007, officially launching the celebration of the university’s centennial year. He succeeded Clyde Cook, who retired as one of the longest-standing college presidents in the nation, serving Biola for 25 years.
Programs developed under President Corey’s administration at Biola include the Biola University Center for Christian Thought; the Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts; the annual Imagination Summit event; and Open Biola — an online database for free educational content created and curated by Biola University. President Corey has overseen the launch of the School of Education and the introduction of online learning. Under his leadership, Biola has seen the highest enrollment in the university’s 105-year history, with the construction of new facilities to serve the needs of the campus. President Corey has led the university into its second century with the launching of an ambitious, 10-year University Plan (2012-2022) and the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the school’s history, entitled A Soul of Conviction and a Voice of Courage, following themes from his inaugural address in November of 2007.
President Corey is vice chair of the board of directors for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and is a member of the Convoy of Hope board of directors. He serves on the executive committee for the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, and the board of reference for the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
Corey, a Massachusetts native, came to Biola from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, Mass., where he served as vice president/chief academic officer, and academic dean. Prior to that, he served as Gordon-Conwell’s vice president for development, leading all external relations and fundraising programs including a successful $54 million capital campaign.
Corey received a B.A. in English and biblical studies from Evangel University in Springfield, Mo., in 1984. In 1988, he received an M.A. in American Studies with a concentration in literature and religious history from Boston College’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Corey received a Ph.D. from Boston College in curriculum, instruction and administration (a higher education program) in 1992.
Corey was a Fulbright Scholar with Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee and lived in Bangladesh among the rural poor from 1990 to 1991. He has also completed two Boston Marathons, one in 2004 and one in 2006.
An ordained minister, Corey served from 1993 to 2000 as pastor of The Greek Evangelical Church of Boston’s English congregation.
He and his wife, Paula, have three children: Anders, Ella and Samuel.
LATEST NEWS:
Corey has signed a one book contract with Tyndale Publishers for his book, The Receivable Life, due out in Spring of 2016!
