The King’s College Board of Trustees Announces Leadership Restructuring

The Board of Trustees of The King’s College is pleased to announce the appointment of Gregory Alan Thornbury, Ph.D. as Chancellor. In this new role Thornbury will counsel the College with strategic advising and networking. He served as the sixth President of The King’s College from 2013 until the present. Thornbury’s career has spanned decades in higher education, focused on scholarship and academic leadership. His new book, a major critical biography on Larry Norman published by Convergent/Penguin Random House will be released in March.

Known for a keen understanding of King’s strategic mission in New York City and beyond, Thornbury’s vision and energy have been instrumental in advancing the national profile of the College, growing the student body, and expanding academic offerings. During his administration, incoming student enrollment has grown by nearly 60%, including the latest incoming class being the most academically gifted class in the history of the College. Student retention improved 14%. The King’s College has introduced five new majors as well as 16 additional minors and concentrations. 8,000 square feet of new campus space was added, including new faculty offices and the O’Keeffe Student Union.

Thirteen Presidential Scholars including Eric Metaxas, Scott Rasmussen, and Amity Shlaes have joined the community under Thornbury’s leadership. Select program additions include Semester in the City, High School Summer Academy, the Office for Student Success, The Center for Human Flourishing and the McCandlish Phillips Journalism Institute. In his work with faculty leadership, the College has seen new events and programs jointly sponsored by the James Madison Program in American Ideals at Princeton University, Fordham University, and other key institutions. Thornbury rejoined The King’s College with the Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities, and spearheaded innovative satellite partnerships including the St. Constantine School in Houston, TX. The College also completed a successful re-accreditation by Middle States.

Thornbury expressed, “I am incredibly grateful to this board, faculty, staff, and students for all of the significant and might I daresay historic progress we have made during this time. I look forward to even greater days for King’s building on the momentum our excellent team has led, and to contributing to that progress in a new way while serving as Chancellor.”

Tim Gibson, currently the Executive Vice President at King’s, will succeed Thornbury as the College’s acting president. Prior to joining the administration, Gibson retired from the US Air Force as a Brigadier General. Originally trained as a pilot, he commanded a variety of organizations at multiple levels, including as the installation commander of the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He holds a Master’s degree in Management from Colorado Christian University, a Master’s degree in Airpower Art and Science from Air University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in English from the USAF Academy. He was also a National Security Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Dr. Mark D. Hijleh has been appointed as Provost of the College. Since 2014, Hijleh has served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty. Previously, he served over 21 years as a faculty member and academic leader at Houghton College. Dr. Mark Hijleh holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Sheffield (UK), Ithaca College, and William Jewell College.

Brian Brenberg, Chair of the Program in Business and Finance at King’s, will continue with his current duties as Associate Professor of Business and Economics but also has been named an Executive Vice President. Prior to joining the King’s faculty, Brenberg worked in the financial services and medical device industries, as well as public policy research and philanthropy. He earned an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. In addition to his teaching at King’s, Professor Brenberg is a frequent guest on several FOX News and FOX Business programs, and has written for many publications, including USA Today, Forbes.com, CNBC.com, the New York Post, and The Hill. His speeches have been covered by Time and The Washington Post, and he regularly lectures for the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) and the American Enterprise Institute’s Values and Capitalism Project. Brian, his wife Krista, and their three children live in New York City.

Tim Dunn, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees said, “The Board’s selection of President Thornbury in 2013 has borne tremendous fruit. He masterfully orchestrated a steady increase in the student body, and has been a tireless champion to advance King’s vision. His efforts furthered the legacy of the great Christian intellectual tradition that has shaped Western culture. With the foundation that has been laid, it is the right time to capitalize on the bench depth resident in the staff and faculty at the College. Tim Gibson’s, Mark Hijleh’s, and Brian Brenberg’s new appointments make perfect sense in this regard. As Chancellor, Dr. Thornbury will have capacity to engage more as an intellectual and author. General Gibson provides credible, steady leadership required at an institution as agile as King’s. In his expanded role as Provost, Dr. Hijleh will have authority in all matters related to academic programming and faculty development. As Executive Vice President, Brian Brenberg will continue developing and building the brand of King’s in the marketplace. The Board has great confidence that, collectively, with their combined record of leadership and breadth of experience, this leadership structure will allow this team to guide King’s through the season of expanding influence ahead. This truly is a win-win scenario for all involved.”

With a focused curriculum in the liberal arts tradition, the mission of The King’s College is, “Through its commitment to the truths of Christianity and a biblical worldview, The King’s College seeks to transform society by preparing students for careers in which they help to shape and eventually lead strategic public and private institutions, and by supporting faculty members as they directly engage culture through writing and speaking publicly on critical issues.”