Board of Governors

Matthew St. John, DMin

Board Chair

Matthew St. John currently serves as senior pastor of  New Hope Church in Minneapolis, Minn. and is the delegate from the Evangelical Free Church of America. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM; DMin) and King University (BA), Matthew has spent years helping local and global leaders know God’s Word so that people from all walks of life may move toward Jesus and take others with them. 

Carissa Youssef, MBA

Board Vice-Chair

Carissa is a dynamic and experienced professional with a proven track record of success in both the charity and business sectors. As a seasoned leader, she is deeply motivated by her unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential. Carissa received her undergraduate degree in Communications from TWU and later her MBA.  She and her husband Bob live in Abbotsford BC with their two daughters. Carissa is currently the Executive Director of One Day's Wages, a grassroots poverty-alleviation organization based in Seattle, WA. 

William Francis, MDiv, DD (HON)

Board Secretary

Bill Francis and his wife, Marilyn, have served as Salvation Army leaders in the USA, UK, and Canada. He is currently in active retirement in Orlando, Fla. Bill earned a BA from Houghton College in 1966, a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1969 and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree (honoris causa) by Houghton College in 2002. Bill is the author of three books, The Stones Cry Out (1993), Celebrate the Feasts of the Lord (1997) and Building Blocks of Spiritual Leadership (2015) and is general editor and contributor to Conversations with the Catholic Church (2014). 

Leighton Friesen, MBA

Board Treasurer

Leighton Friesen is the president and chief executive officer of North West Rubber, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of innovative rubber products. He holds a BBA from TWU and an MBA from the University of Calgary (Haskayne School of Business). Leighton has served as a board director for a number of companies and charitable organizations and currently resides in Langley with his wife Sarah and their three children. Leighton enjoys playing most sports, the outdoors, and travelling with his family. 

Angelica Del Vasto, BTh

Angelica Del Vasto is a passionate Christ follower and lifelong learner. She earned her bachelor’s degree in theology from Masters College and Seminary (Peterborough, Ont.) and subsequently pursued studies in English literature at the University of Waterloo. Angelica serves in various volunteer leadership roles in her local church and has been involved in many other Christian and community groups including being on the founding board of two charitable organizations. Angelica has worked as a pastor for a number of years and is a published columnist (Worship Leader Magazine) and children's book editor. She currently works as a licensed real estate broker in the greater Toronto area, successfully running this business for the last 12 years. Angelica has been a part of the TWU parent community since 2014. She resides in Oakville, Ontario and is lovingly devoted to her husband and three adult children. 

Michelle Holland, MCS

Michelle lives in the Lower Mainland with her husband, Neal, and their two young children. She earned her B.Ed from TWU and holds a Masters in Christian Studies from ACTS. Michelle has worked with children, youth, and young adults for many years in both educational and ministry capacities, and is passionate about loving Jesus and helping others know His love for them.

Dawit Isaac, MDiv, MBA

Dawit Isaac is a strategic, inspirational leader with 20+ years’ experience in consulting and directing leadership in public and private sector businesses and non-profit organizations. He has an MDiv, an MBA and is currently a PhD candidate in Innovative Urban Leadership. Dawit has a keen interest in intercultural relations and speaks fluent English, Amharic, and Tigrigna, While serving as an educator in the areas of leadership and management within the university setting, he simultaneously participated in galvanizing local communities and contributed significantly to political discourse across municipal, provincial, and federal tiers. He and his wife own and operate a small business and he is the pastor of Community of Grace Church in Edmonton, Alberta where he lives with his wife and 3 adult daughters.

Trygve Johnson, PhD

Rev. Dr. Trygve Johnson holds an M.Div., from Western Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. in Theology from University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and is ordained in the Reformed Church in America (RCA). He is author of The Preacher as Liturgical Artist and speaks nationally to college campuses and churches. Trygve’s particular intellectual interests are the intersection of theology and the imagination, Christian proclamation, Christology, the pastoral theology of Eugene Peterson, and the need for Christian Higher Education in the secular age. Trygve is married to Dr. Kristen Deede Johnson, Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Theology and Christian Formation at Western Theological Seminary, in Holland MI. Together they have been blessed with a son, Trygve, Jr., and a daughter, Ella.

Julie Kerr, MSc 

Julie Kerr is a TWU Alumna (BA Psychology, 1989) and Alumni Achievement Award recipient (2014) who also completed a Master of Science in Psychology at Western Washington University (1996). She has worked in the health, social service, and not for profit sectors and has served on a wide variety of boards including crisis pregnancy centres, a Christian school, homeless serving organizations, churches, and primary care networks. Together with her husband Michael, Julie has four grown children, two of whom attended TWU. Three of them are married and Julie is the proud grandmother to three delightful little people.

Matthew Kwok, MD

Matthew Kwok strives to share the love of Christ by making a difference in people’s lives, including those in the Trinity Western University community. He is a resident of Richmond, B.C. and serves in his community as an emergency physician, a medical administrator, and a clinical faculty at the University of British Columbia. He has been active in his church and has served as a small group leader, a worship leader and an elder. He has been married to his wonderful wife Lily for more than 20 years and loves spending time with his three children. In his leisure time, he enjoys travelling, cycling, and playing music.

David Lauber, PhD

David Lauber is the Dean of Humanities and Theological Studies, and Professor of Theology at Wheaton College. He is a graduate of Wheaton College, where he studied Philosophy and English Literature. He received an MA in Theology from Yale University Divinity School and earned his PhD in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. David’s work as a teacher, writer, and administrator reflects his commitment to the distinct value of Christian Liberal Arts education. David has authored and co-edited six books, including Life Questions Every Student Asks: Faithful Responses to Common Issues, and Theology Questions Everyone Asks: Christian Faith in Plain Language. His wife, Dawn Holt Lauber, is a pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Vijay Manuel, MA

Vijay Manuel has served as the Head of MEI Schools for seven years. An alumnus of 1991, Vijay returned to MEI after 20 years as a teacher, vice principal, and principal in the Abbotsford school district. Vijay is a founding member and chairs the board of directors for Character Abbotsford Society, has twice been recognized as one of Abbotsford's Most Influential People, and is the recipient of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Award for service to community and country. In addition to being an educator, Vijay has served as the Pastor of Worship Arts at South Abbotsford MB Church, the Executive Pastor at Christian Life Assembly in Langley, BC, and was the leader at the popular Doxa worship events in the late 1990s. Vijay and his wife, Sarah, were married in 1999 and have four children.

Todd Martin, PhD

Todd Martin is the interim president and provost of Trinity Western University. He completed his PhD in Sociology of Family at the University of British Columbia. He also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in theology and sociology and a Master of Arts in Family Studies. Dr. Martin has been a faculty member at TWU since 2008, and prior to his role as provost, he was dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS). 

Aaron Rogers, BComm

Aaron Rogers is the Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of Global Aid Network (GAiN) Canada, the humanitarian partner of Power To Change Ministries. Aaron was born in Pune, India and grew up in Kuwait. Aaron graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a major in Accounting from the University of Pune. In 1998, he left a successful career with Otis Elevator Company and moved to Canada with his wife, in faith, trusting that this was God’s plan for their lives. With GAiN, Aaron has led and implemented disaster response and relief projects around the world and served on the boards of several non-profits. He currently serves as the Board Chair of his home church, Kingdom Life Community Church. Aaron, his wife Madhvi and their daughter live in Langley, BC.

Cary Skidmore, BA

William Taylor, MA

Bill Taylor is executive director of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada, a role he has held since 2008. Bill completed an honors BA in history and philosophy at the University of Waterloo and subsequently graduated in 1990 from Wilfred Laurier University with an MA in history. He completed all-but-dissertation towards a PhD in history through the Universities of Toronto and Saskatchewan. Bill and his wife Deb live in Aldergrove, BC. 

Clayton Tuffnell, MD

Clayton Tuffnell resides in Abbotsford, BC with his wife Angi, five daughters and one son. He currently is a medical staff member at Abbotsford Regional Health Care and Cancer Centre as an OBGYN. He holds a BSc from Trinity Western University, and MD from the University of British Columbia, and completed residency training at the University of Alberta. He has served as an elder at the local church level, and as a clinical instructor for both medical students and residents. He is passionate about discipleship in the local church, and enjoys teaching and leading the study of God’s Word with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Priscilla Vetter, PhD

Perky Vetter completed two years at Trinity Junior College (now TWU) and went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in physical education at Chico State in CA. After that, she returned to Trinity Western to help set up the women’s physical education department and coached volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She then went on to a few other teaching jobs before setting in at Cal Poly University, Pomona, where she has been the department chair of kinesiology for 15 years. Her teaching career spans 44 years with 39 being at Cal Poly Pomona. She lives in Southern California where she spends time with her family, including a granddaughter.