Project Description

Following a nationwide search, led by CarterBaldwin Executive Search, Dr. Corbin Hoornbeek, a leader in Christian higher education and world missions for nearly 30 years, has been unanimously selected by the University of Northwestern – St. Paul board of trustees to be the organization’s ninth president.

Hoornbeek comes to Northwestern after having served as Vice President for University Advancement at Azusa Pacific University (APU), where he directed the university’s fundraising, alumni, and parent engagement activities and programs. A member of the president’s cabinet, Dr. Hoornbeek led the completion of a $100 million comprehensive campaign, while also securing over $12.5 million in new endowment gifts. Prior to his arrival at APU, Dr. Hoornbeek spent more than a decade as a major gift officer with The Navigators, a global, interdenominational missions agency with over 7,000 internationally and ethnically diverse staff serving in 107 countries. During his Navigators tenure, Hoornbeek traveled extensively throughout the world, interacting cross-culturally with global missions in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Hoornbeek’s relational and collaborative leadership approach extends beyond his Advancement experience. Throughout his 11-year career at APU, he spent a significant amount of time with students in 1:1 mentorship and group discipleship settings. He has been an active volunteer with Young Life and Wyldlife Clubs and has co-led relational and emotional healing processes for marriages in distress.

“Dr. Corbin Hoornbeek enthusiastically believes that the Bible is God’s inerrant and authoritative Word; he embraces the Great Commission as his personal mandate for life,” said Dr. George Kenworthy, chair of the Northwestern board of trustees. He continued, “I believe that Dr. Hoornbeek is an extremely personable and gifted leader who will evaluate every decision he makes based on the mission statements of our university and media ministry. I look forward to working alongside him as he assumes the role of president.”

Originally from Bellingham, WA, Hoornbeek earned a BA in Music from the University of Michigan, an MA in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Leadership Studies from Dallas Baptist University.