Cornerstone University Selects Gerson Moreno-Riaño as its Twelfth President

Project Description

The Cornerstone University board of trustees announced today it has unanimously appointed Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño as its 12th university president. Moreno-Riaño was selected after a nationwide quest coordinated by CarterBaldwin Executive Search and succeeds Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, who retired this month after 13 years.

Moreno-Riaño joins Cornerstone after serving for more than seven years as executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Regent University. He also served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and chair of the government department. Prior to Regent, Moreno-Riaño was an associate professor of political science at Cedarville University.

“Dr. Moreno-Riaño possesses the academic experience, vision and profound faith in Christ that will propel Cornerstone into the next decade and beyond. As an institution, we anticipate a future of immense possibilities and growth under Gerson’s leadership,” said Carole Bos, chair of the Cornerstone board of trustees.

During his tenure at Regent, Moreno-Riaño provided strategic leadership for 10 undergraduate and graduate schools and the University Library. He led a multi-year strategic growth initiative that led to the creation of Regent’s School of Nursing, founding of the College of Healthcare Sciences and increase of the university’s academic programs by 60%. As a result, Regent became one of America’s fastest growing universities, almost doubling its enrollment from 5,881 students in 2014 to more than 11,000 students today and joining the ranks of U.S. News & World Report’s top national universities and the #1 online bachelor’s degree program in Virginia.

“In the changing climate of higher education, Cornerstone requires a leader that understands the minutiae of day-to-day operations as well as long-term goals of a university,” Bos said. “Gerson has time and again exemplified his competencies in both realms. He is uniquely qualified to navigate Cornerstone through the challenging landscape of Christian higher education.”

A Colombia native, Moreno-Riaño moved to New York at the age of nine. He earned his BA in political science and pre-seminary biblical studies from Cedarville University and his MA and PhD in political science from the University of Cincinnati.

Click here to read the entire Cornerstone University announcement.

About Cornerstone University

Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cornerstone University is an independent, non-denominational university committed to the steadfast teachings of Christ. They preach, teach, and confess God’s word in all things, and train and equip future leaders to do the same in whatever environment they are called to.

What is now Cornerstone University began on Jan. 7, 1941, in Wealthy Street Baptist Church. The evening Bible studies would become daytime classes, which then evolved into degree programs. Today, Cornerstone is an undergraduate institution designed to provide whole-person liberal arts education to each student who walks through its doors. After almost 80 years of rich history, Cornerstone continues to influence the world for Christ in everything they do.